STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Shares Sold by Raiffeisen Bank International AG

Raiffeisen Bank International AG lowered its holdings in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 5.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 5,000 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 306 shares during the quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG’s holdings in STERIS were worth $1,115,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in STERIS by 4,733.3% in the first quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 145 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the period. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in STERIS in the first quarter valued at $43,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in STERIS by 503.0% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 199 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new stake in STERIS in the first quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Slocum Gordon & Co LLP acquired a new stake in STERIS in the first quarter valued at $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

STERIS Trading Up 0.8%

STERIS stock opened at $228.62 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $22.49 billion, a PE ratio of 36.87 and a beta of 0.92. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $235.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $228.24. STERIS plc has a 52 week low of $200.98 and a 52 week high of $252.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.96, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 14th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.74 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $1.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.47 billion. STERIS had a return on equity of 14.21% and a net margin of 11.26%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.58 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that STERIS plc will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 4th will be given a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 4th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. This is a boost from STERIS’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.65%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

STE has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded STERIS from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. KeyCorp raised their price target on STERIS from $277.00 to $288.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on STERIS in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $263.00 price target for the company. Citigroup restated an “outperform” rating on shares of STERIS in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, JMP Securities raised their price target on STERIS from $265.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $270.33.

Insider Transactions at STERIS

In related news, CEO Daniel A. Carestio sold 17,626 shares of STERIS stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $242.56, for a total transaction of $4,275,362.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 51,385 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,463,945.60. This trade represents a 25.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Cary L. Majors sold 12,828 shares of STERIS stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.08, for a total value of $3,208,026.24. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 11,372 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,843,909.76. This represents a 53.01% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.07% of the company’s stock.

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.