STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the six analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $239.60.

Several brokerages recently issued reports on STE. TheStreet raised STERIS from a “c+” rating to a “b” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 8th. KeyCorp initiated coverage on STERIS in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $253.00 target price on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $250.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, April 12th.

STERIS Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE STE opened at $202.80 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.43 and a quick ratio of 1.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.52 and a beta of 0.79. STERIS has a 1-year low of $180.54 and a 1-year high of $254.00. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $222.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $217.06.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) 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 period in the prior year, the company posted $2.02 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that STERIS will post 8.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.03%. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.43%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On STERIS

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in STERIS by 3.2% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 7,621 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $1,713,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its position in shares of STERIS by 18.2% in the first quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 2,561 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $576,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of STERIS in the first quarter valued at approximately $324,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of STERIS by 84.7% in the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 375 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Carderock Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of STERIS by 41.5% in the first quarter. Carderock Capital Management Inc. now owns 27,637 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $6,213,000 after acquiring an additional 8,107 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

About STERIS

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.