Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC Buys 25,110 Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) by 59.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,187 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 25,110 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC owned about 0.09% of West Pharmaceutical Services worth $22,008,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter worth $85,000. Greenleaf Trust raised its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 14.8% during the fourth quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 1,210 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $396,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the period. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC purchased a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $221,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 39.4% during the fourth quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 1,094 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $358,000 after buying an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 904.2% during the fourth quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 21,941 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $7,187,000 after acquiring an additional 19,756 shares during the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance

Shares of WST stock opened at $339.63 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $24.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.44, a PEG ratio of 19.82 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 3.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $265.00 and a 52-week high of $413.70. The company’s 50 day moving average is $331.42 and its 200 day moving average is $314.03.

West Pharmaceutical Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 11th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.25%. West Pharmaceutical Services’s payout ratio is 12.46%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on WST. UBS Group upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $350.00 to $390.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America upped their price objective on West Pharmaceutical Services from $350.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. StockNews.com raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a “buy” rating and a $400.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “peer perform” rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $430.20.

West Pharmaceutical Services Profile

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.