Aigen Investment Management LP Makes New $1.41 Million Investment in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new position in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 6,870 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,412,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of STE. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 171.2% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 838,569 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $191,370,000 after purchasing an additional 529,308 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 400.4% in the 4th quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 224,741 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $46,198,000 after purchasing an additional 179,829 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB bought a new stake in shares of STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,251,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 2,123.2% in the 3rd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 113,672 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $27,574,000 after purchasing an additional 108,559 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 9.5% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,114,224 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $270,230,000 after purchasing an additional 96,336 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

STERIS Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of STE stock opened at $227.51 on Thursday. 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 plc has a 1 year low of $197.82 and a 1 year high of $248.24. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $215.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $222.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.35 billion, a PE ratio of 48.30 and a beta of 0.84.

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 return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 8.66%. As a group, research analysts expect that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on STE shares. Piper Sandler raised their price target on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $240.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, February 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.