Motley Fool Asset Management LLC Makes New $4.72 Million Investment in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Motley Fool Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund bought 21,553 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock, valued at approximately $4,716,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of WST. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter valued at $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter valued at $27,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 85.0% during the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 185 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 573.3% during the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 202 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the period. Finally, Cromwell Holdings LLC grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 587.5% during the second quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 220 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.90% of the company’s stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 3.6%

WST opened at $286.82 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $260.17 and a 200 day moving average of $235.24. The company has a market cap of $20.63 billion, a PE ratio of 42.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.40 and a beta of 1.07. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $187.43 and a 12 month high of $348.90. The company has a current ratio of 2.87, a quick ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.29. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 16.29% and a return on equity of 18.16%. The business had revenue of $804.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $788.42 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.85 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.060-7.110 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on WST shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Zacks Research lowered West Pharmaceutical Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $345.00 price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Rothschild Redb raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, September 15th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn began coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Monday, September 15th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $311.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $349.11.

About West Pharmaceutical Services

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products.