Sei Investments Co. Increases Stock Position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

Sei Investments Co. grew its position in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 7.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 142,193 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 9,777 shares during the quarter. Sei Investments Co.’s holdings in STERIS were worth $29,229,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in STE. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 10.6% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 369,698 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $75,995,000 after acquiring an additional 35,424 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC grew its position in STERIS by 46.3% during the 4th quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 9,355 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $1,923,000 after purchasing an additional 2,960 shares during the last quarter. Sciencast Management LP purchased a new position in STERIS during the 4th quarter worth $708,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of STERIS in the fourth quarter valued at about $154,000. Finally, Blueshift Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of STERIS during the fourth quarter worth about $517,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

STERIS Price Performance

Shares of NYSE STE opened at $221.57 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $221.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $221.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 2.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.04 and a beta of 0.92. STERIS plc has a one year low of $197.82 and a one year high of $248.24.

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

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th were given a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 20th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.03%. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.41%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $240.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.75.

STERIS Company 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.