Stephens Inc. AR Increases Stock Holdings in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

Stephens Inc. AR increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,546 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the quarter. Stephens Inc. AR’s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $942,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Boston Scientific during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its holdings in Boston Scientific by 86.4% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 328 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its position in Boston Scientific by 423.7% in the 4th quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 309 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. West Oak Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific during the third quarter worth $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.07% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BSX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, December 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Boston Scientific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $108.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. TD Cowen boosted their price target 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. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Boston Scientific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $107.39.

Boston Scientific Stock Up 0.4 %

BSX stock opened at $106.16 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.48. The firm has a market cap of $156.47 billion, a PE ratio of 84.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.80. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $95.80 and its 200 day moving average is $87.85. Boston Scientific Co. has a one year low of $65.00 and a one year high of $107.17.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.05. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 11.07% and a return on equity of 18.11%. On average, research analysts forecast that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.83 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 4,877 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.63, for a total value of $446,879.51. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 39,398 shares in the company, valued at $3,610,038.74. This represents a 11.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 17,313 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.80, for a total transaction of $1,762,463.40. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,502 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $560,103.60. The trade was a 75.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 87,326 shares of company stock worth $8,673,948. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Boston Scientific Company 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.