Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. Sells 425 Shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. decreased its position in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 2.6% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 15,846 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 425 shares during the quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $1,085,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BSX. Mutual Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 20.7% in the fourth quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 5,999 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $347,000 after purchasing an additional 1,029 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 19,071 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,102,000 after purchasing an additional 404 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 1,181,574 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $68,307,000 after purchasing an additional 44,000 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC bought a new position in shares of Boston Scientific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $102,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its position in Boston Scientific by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 507,550 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $29,341,000 after acquiring an additional 14,723 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.07% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BTIG Research boosted their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $79.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. They set a “buy” rating and a $90.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $73.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $82.29.

Boston Scientific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BSX traded up $0.32 on Tuesday, hitting $78.59. The stock had a trading volume of 6,705,798 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,186,285. Boston Scientific Co. has a twelve month low of $48.35 and a twelve month high of $79.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.66. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $76.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $69.98. The company has a market capitalization of $115.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 65.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.78.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.05. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 12.06% and a return on equity of 16.39%. The company had revenue of $3.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.68 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 9,818 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.29, for a total transaction of $719,561.22. Following the transaction, the director now owns 41,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,032,300.46. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 9,818 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.29, for a total transaction of $719,561.22. Following the transaction, the director now owns 41,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,032,300.46. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP John Bradley Sorenson sold 17,587 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.50, for a total transaction of $1,257,470.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 50,638 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,620,617. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 72,259 shares of company stock worth $5,344,014 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

About Boston Scientific

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.