48,136 Shares in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Purchased by Proficio Capital Partners LLC

Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 48,136 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock, valued at approximately $9,895,000.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of STERIS by 171.2% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 838,569 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $191,370,000 after buying an additional 529,308 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in STERIS by 30.8% during the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 10,970 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $2,275,000 after acquiring an additional 2,583 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV increased its stake in STERIS by 52.0% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 12,071 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $2,928,000 after acquiring an additional 4,132 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in STERIS during the third quarter worth approximately $9,949,000. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its stake in 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 worth $1,039,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. 94.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

STERIS Trading Up 2.1 %

STE opened at $227.04 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $22.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.20 and a beta of 0.92. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $219.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $222.48. STERIS plc has a one year low of $197.82 and a one year high of $248.24. 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 announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) 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, equities analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 20th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.00%. STERIS’s payout ratio is 48.41%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

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.