STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Shares Sold by Magnetar Financial LLC

Magnetar Financial LLC reduced its stake in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 55.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,381 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 11,827 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC’s holdings in STERIS were worth $1,928,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Avalon Trust Co acquired a new stake in STERIS in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Human Investing LLC purchased a new position in STERIS in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its stake in STERIS by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 182 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division increased its stake in STERIS by 65.5% in the fourth quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 192 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Manchester Capital Management LLC increased its stake in STERIS by 182.7% in the fourth quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 212 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. 94.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

STERIS Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of STE opened at $225.48 on Friday. STERIS plc has a 1-year low of $197.82 and a 1-year high of $248.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.40. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $220.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $222.27. The stock has a market cap of $22.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.87 and a beta of 0.92.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. Equities analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 20th. STERIS’s payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $240.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.75.

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.