Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Estimate for WST Earnings

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, November 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the medical instruments supplier will post earnings per share of $7.06 for the year, up from their prior forecast of $6.67. Zacks Research has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for West Pharmaceutical Services’ current full-year earnings is $6.62 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for West Pharmaceutical Services’ Q4 2025 earnings at $1.81 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.64 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.91 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $7.40 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.65 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.26 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $8.34 EPS.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 company had revenue of $804.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $788.42 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.85 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.060-7.110 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $345.00 price objective on West Pharmaceutical Services and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Redburn Partners set a $311.00 price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Evercore ISI increased their target price on West Pharmaceutical Services from $350.00 to $390.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $320.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $349.20.

West Pharmaceutical Services Price Performance

Shares of WST stock opened at $266.77 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $268.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $241.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 2.18 and a current ratio of 2.87. West Pharmaceutical Services has a 52-week low of $187.43 and a 52-week high of $348.90. The stock has a market cap of $19.19 billion, a PE ratio of 39.52, a PEG ratio of 4.09 and a beta of 1.08.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On West Pharmaceutical Services

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WST. Arrowpoint Investment Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 3rd quarter valued at $726,000. Prudential PLC increased its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 21.0% during the third quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 28,106 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $7,373,000 after purchasing an additional 4,875 shares during the period. Perbak Capital Partners LLP boosted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 39.8% in the third quarter. Perbak Capital Partners LLP now owns 4,131 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,084,000 after buying an additional 1,176 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 22.2% during the third quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 247,356 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $64,889,000 after buying an additional 44,938 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Epoch Investment Partners Inc. increased its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 45.6% in the third quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. now owns 525,899 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $137,959,000 after purchasing an additional 164,634 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.90% of the company’s stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile

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.