Cornerstone Planning Group LLC Purchases 40 Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) by 57.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 110 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC’s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $38,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 60.8% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 209 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hilltop National Bank boosted its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 47.9% in the 4th quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 216 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

West Pharmaceutical Services Trading Down 2.7 %

Shares of WST stock opened at $321.50 on Monday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $332.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $314.48. The company has a current ratio of 3.00, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The stock has a market cap of $23.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.70, a PEG ratio of 19.31 and a beta of 1.01. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $265.00 and a twelve month high of $413.56.

West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.26%. West Pharmaceutical Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on WST shares. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “peer perform” rating for the company. UBS Group upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $350.00 to $390.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $350.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a “buy” rating and a $400.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $403.75.

West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products.