Sentry Investment Management LLC Lowers Holdings in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

Sentry Investment Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 14.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,095 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 992 shares during the quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $544,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA increased its stake in Boston Scientific by 9.7% in the third quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 1,352 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $115,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the period. Adero Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Adero Partners LLC now owns 3,737 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $334,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust increased its stake in Boston Scientific by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 2,923 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $261,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Boston Scientific by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 8,113 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $725,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stonegate Investment Group LLC boosted its position in Boston Scientific by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 7,827 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $699,000 after buying an additional 126 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.78, for a total value of $633,916.74. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 29,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,660,580.24. This represents a 19.24 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Daniel J. Brennan sold 15,087 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.07, for a total transaction of $1,585,191.09. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 241,451 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,369,256.57. This trade represents a 5.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 139,630 shares of company stock worth $14,467,616. 0.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Boston Scientific Price Performance

NYSE BSX opened at $104.30 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $153.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 83.44, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $98.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $89.69. Boston Scientific Co. has a 1 year low of $65.52 and a 1 year high of $107.17.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.05. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 11.07%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $107.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on Boston Scientific from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Boston Scientific from $105.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Boston Scientific currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $107.39.

Boston Scientific Profile

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions, such as resolution clips, biliary stent systems, stents and electrocautery enhanced delivery systems, direct visualization systems, digital catheters, and single-use duodenoscopes; devices to treat urological conditions, including ureteral stents, catheters, baskets, guidewires, sheaths, balloons, single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes, holmium laser systems, artificial urinary sphincter, laser system, fiber, and hydrogel systems; and devices to treat neurological movement disorders and manage chronic pain, such as spinal cord stimulator system, proprietary programming software, radiofrequency generator, indirect decompression systems, practice optimization tools, and deep brain stimulation system.