Middleton & Co. Inc. MA Raises Stock Position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

Middleton & Co. Inc. MA increased its stake in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 49,135 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 427 shares during the period. STERIS accounts for 1.1% of Middleton & Co. Inc. MA’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Middleton & Co. Inc. MA’s holdings in STERIS were worth $10,100,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of STERIS in the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Human Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of STERIS during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its stake in shares of STERIS by 65.5% in the fourth quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 192 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manchester Capital Management LLC boosted its position in STERIS by 182.7% during the fourth quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 212 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. 94.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

STE has been the topic of a number of research reports. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $240.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and set a $265.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, November 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, STERIS has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.75.

STERIS Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE STE opened at $219.23 on Friday. STERIS plc has a one year low of $197.82 and a one year high of $248.24. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $214.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $223.01. The firm has a market cap of $21.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.54 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 2.13.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 8.66%. Equities research analysts anticipate that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.04%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 20th. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.41%.

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.