Brian G. Lloyd Sells 25,000 Shares of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) Stock

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) insider Brian G. Lloyd sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.50, for a total transaction of $2,487,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 38,993 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,879,803.50. This trade represents a 39.07 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Merit Medical Systems Stock Up 1.0 %

MMSI traded up $0.99 on Monday, reaching $103.03. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,123,973 shares, compared to its average volume of 565,682. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has a 1 year low of $70.70 and a 1 year high of $111.45. The business’s 50 day moving average is $103.02 and its 200 day moving average is $100.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 5.36 and a quick ratio of 3.82. The stock has a market cap of $6.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.87.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Merit Medical Systems

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Peak Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems in the fourth quarter worth $875,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in Merit Medical Systems by 17.4% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 165,344 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $15,992,000 after acquiring an additional 24,528 shares in the last quarter. iSAM Funds UK Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems in the 4th quarter worth about $424,000. Virtus Investment Advisers Inc. increased its position in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 45.7% in the 4th quarter. Virtus Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 11,192 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,082,000 after purchasing an additional 3,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 3,197.9% in the 4th quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 342,912 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $33,166,000 after purchasing an additional 332,514 shares in the last quarter. 99.66% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MMSI shares. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $122.00 to $116.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Merit Medical Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, November 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Merit Medical Systems from $120.00 to $117.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Barrington Research decreased their target price on Merit Medical Systems from $115.00 to $111.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on Merit Medical Systems from $128.00 to $127.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $110.78.

About Merit Medical Systems

Merit Medical Systems, Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and markets single-use medical products for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Cardiovascular and Endoscopy. The company provides micropuncture kits, angiographic needles, sheaths, guide wires, and safety products; peripheral intervention, including angiography, drainage, delivery systems, and embolotherapy products; spine products, such as vertebral augmentation, radiofrequency ablation, and bone biopsy systems; oncology products; and cardiac intervention products, such as access, angiography, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management, fluid management, hemodynamic monitoring, hemostasis, and intervention to treat various heart conditions.