STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Shares Sold by Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLC

Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLC cut its stake in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 255,691 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 3,820 shares during the quarter. STERIS comprises 1.8% of Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Locust Wood Capital Advisers LLC’s holdings in STERIS were worth $52,560,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Avalon Trust Co bought a new position in STERIS during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Human Investing LLC bought a new stake in STERIS in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC lifted its position in STERIS by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 182 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its position in STERIS by 65.5% during the 4th quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 192 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manchester Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of STERIS by 182.7% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 212 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

STE has been the topic of a number of research reports. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $240.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a research note on Monday. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.75.

STERIS Trading Up 6.9 %

Shares of NYSE STE opened at $222.84 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $21.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.31 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.40. STERIS plc has a 1 year low of $197.82 and a 1 year high of $248.24. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $222.60 and a 200 day moving average of $219.88.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 13.91%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 20th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 20th. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.41%.

STERIS Profile

STERIS plc provides infection prevention products and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, Life Sciences, and Dental. The Healthcare segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; automated endoscope reprocessing system and tracking products; endoscopy accessories, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, and connectivity solutions, as well as equipment management services.