Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Has $1.15 Million Position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. lowered its holdings in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 62.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,615 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 9,423 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in STERIS were worth $1,154,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of STE. Norges Bank purchased a new position in STERIS during the 4th quarter worth $238,836,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in STERIS during the 4th quarter worth $223,987,000. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in STERIS by 45.1% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,216,821 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $250,130,000 after acquiring an additional 378,252 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in STERIS by 4,534.6% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 219,032 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $45,024,000 after acquiring an additional 214,306 shares during the last quarter. Finally, D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. purchased a new position in STERIS during the 4th quarter worth $37,243,000. 94.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on STE. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Monday, April 7th. Stephens raised shares of STERIS to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, April 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $258.75.

STERIS Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:STE opened at $226.80 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $223.49 and its 200 day moving average is $218.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 2.13. The company has a market capitalization of $22.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.15 and a beta of 0.96. STERIS plc has a fifty-two week low of $200.98 and a fifty-two week high of $248.24.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 14th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.58 by $0.16. STERIS had a net margin of 8.66% and a return on equity of 13.91%. The firm’s revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.58 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 26th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 10th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 10th. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.