Acadian Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) by 108.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,926 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 2,565 shares during the quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC’s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $1,620,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 16.4% during the 4th quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,634 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $575,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $247,000. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $288,000. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC raised its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 41.5% during the fourth quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC now owns 12,229 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $4,306,000 after acquiring an additional 3,586 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ING Groep NV raised its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 5.8% during the fourth quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 10,129 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $3,567,000 after acquiring an additional 556 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.90% of the company’s stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Up 1.1 %

West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $300.67 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.81 billion, a PE ratio of 39.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 10.61 and a beta of 1.01. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $265.00 and a 12 month high of $413.70. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $305.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $339.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 2.34 and a quick ratio of 1.68.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.74 by ($0.22). The business had revenue of $702.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $729.36 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 18.25% and a return on equity of 19.17%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.11 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 1,029 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total value of $308,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,478 shares in the company, valued at $443,400. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.53% of the company’s stock.

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.