4,199 Shares in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Purchased by Generali Asset Management SPA SGR

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 4,199 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock, valued at approximately $863,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of STE. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in STERIS by 9.5% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,114,224 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $270,230,000 after purchasing an additional 96,336 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of STERIS by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 35,875 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $8,701,000 after buying an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of STERIS during the 3rd quarter worth $839,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in STERIS by 0.7% in the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 37,931 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $9,200,000 after acquiring an additional 279 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI bought a new position in STERIS in the third quarter valued at $223,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $240.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, STERIS presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.75.

STERIS Price Performance

STE opened at $225.48 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.40. STERIS plc has a 1 year low of $197.82 and a 1 year high of $248.24. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $220.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $222.27. The firm has a market cap of $22.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.87 and a beta of 0.92.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 EPS 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%. As a group, analysts predict that STERIS plc will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 20th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. STERIS’s payout ratio is presently 48.41%.

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.