STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Holdings Decreased by Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA cut its position in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 21.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,987,203 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 1,348,302 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned 5.05% of STERIS worth $1,025,169,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in STE. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in STERIS by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,534 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $521,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 1.6% in the third quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,153 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $765,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Park Edge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Park Edge Advisors LLC now owns 4,662 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $958,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI increased its stake in shares of STERIS by 5.9% during the fourth quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 975 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $201,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the period. Finally, Opal Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in STERIS by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,118 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

STERIS Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:STE opened at $225.49 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $22.15 billion, a PE ratio of 47.87 and a beta of 0.92. 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 stock has a fifty day moving average of $223.03 and a 200-day moving average of $220.88. STERIS plc has a one year low of $197.82 and a one year high of $248.24.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates 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, equities analysts anticipate that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared 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 1.01%. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.41%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on STE shares. Piper Sandler increased their price target on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $240.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a $265.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. One investment 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 presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.75.

About STERIS

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.