STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Shares Sold by WD Rutherford LLC

WD Rutherford LLC reduced its position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 8.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,740 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 240 shares during the quarter. WD Rutherford LLC’s holdings in STERIS were worth $603,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Millburn Ridgefield Corp acquired a new stake in STERIS during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of STERIS during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in shares of STERIS during the third quarter worth about $49,000. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in STERIS in the 3rd quarter valued at about $50,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in STERIS during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $54,000. 94.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

STERIS Price Performance

Shares of NYSE STE opened at $203.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.43. STERIS plc has a one year low of $181.78 and a one year high of $254.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.71 and a beta of 0.79. The company’s fifty day moving average is $221.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $216.80.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.17 by $0.05. STERIS had a net margin of 10.48% and a return on equity of 13.67%. The firm had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.02 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 14.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 8.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. STERIS’s payout ratio is 36.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on STE shares. KeyCorp began coverage on STERIS in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $253.00 target price on the stock. JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $250.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of STERIS from a “c+” rating to a “b” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, STERIS currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $239.60.

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.