Analysts Set STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Target Price at $258.75

Shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) have been assigned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the five analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $258.75.

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $240.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price objective on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd.

STERIS Stock Down 3.7 %

STE stock opened at $213.16 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $223.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $220.57. The company has a market cap of $20.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.26 and a beta of 0.87. 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 has a fifty-two week low of $197.82 and a fifty-two week high of $248.24.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 13.91%. On average, research analysts expect that STERIS will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 20th were paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 20th. STERIS’s payout ratio is currently 48.41%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of STE. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in STERIS by 9.5% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,114,224 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $270,230,000 after acquiring an additional 96,336 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its stake in shares of STERIS by 13.2% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 4,283 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,039,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Atom Investors LP grew its holdings in shares of STERIS by 37.8% in the third quarter. Atom Investors LP now owns 3,716 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $901,000 after purchasing an additional 1,020 shares during the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth about $218,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp of Ontario lifted its holdings in STERIS by 55.4% during the 3rd quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 3,365 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $816,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

STERIS Company 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.