Simplicity Solutions LLC Sells 128 Shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

Simplicity Solutions LLC cut its stake in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,453 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 128 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC’s holdings in STERIS were worth $319,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in STE. 1832 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new position in STERIS in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp purchased a new position in STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $49,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $50,000. 94.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on STE shares. TheStreet raised STERIS from a “c+” rating to a “b” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, April 12th. KeyCorp began coverage on STERIS in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $253.00 price target on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $250.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and set a $265.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, STERIS currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $239.60.

STERIS Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of STE opened at $199.62 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $223.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $217.48. STERIS plc has a 1 year low of $180.54 and a 1 year high of $254.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.96 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.43 and a quick ratio of 1.49.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.05. STERIS had a return on equity of 13.67% and a net margin of 10.48%. The company had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.02 EPS. STERIS’s quarterly revenue was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that STERIS plc will post 8.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. STERIS’s payout ratio is presently 36.43%.

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.