Bahl & Gaynor Inc. increased its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) by 6.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,090 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,386 shares during the period. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. owned about 0.06% of West Pharmaceutical Services worth $3,136,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd bought a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services during the second quarter worth $151,000. Seven Eight Capital LLC increased its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 5,481.4% in the second quarter. Seven Eight Capital LLC now owns 2,400 shares of the company’s stock worth $182,000 after buying an additional 2,357 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 3.9% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,921 shares of the company’s stock worth $218,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Inc. bought a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services during the second quarter worth $281,000. Finally, Highbridge Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services during the second quarter worth $291,000. 89.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) opened at 86.43 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $6.33 billion, a PE ratio of 46.74 and a beta of 0.94. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $53.88 and a 1-year high of $88.30. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $84.78 and a 200-day moving average of $80.12.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 18th were issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 13th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.60%. West Pharmaceutical Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.11%.
A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Zacks Investment Research raised West Pharmaceutical Services from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 7th. Jefferies Group LLC lifted their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $76.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Janney Montgomery Scott reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Friday, December 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 28th.
In related news, Director Patrick J. Zenner purchased 332 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 8th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $84.53 per share, with a total value of $28,063.96. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 5.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.