Aviva PLC Boosts Holdings in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

Aviva PLC raised its stake in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 55.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 84,672 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 30,064 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC owned approximately 0.09% of STERIS worth $17,405,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of STE. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 9.5% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,114,224 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $270,230,000 after buying an additional 96,336 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of STERIS in the third quarter worth approximately $67,000. Stifel Financial Corp raised its stake in STERIS by 0.3% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 87,420 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $21,205,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of STERIS by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,686 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $409,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of STERIS during the 3rd quarter worth $204,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.69% of the company’s stock.

STERIS Price Performance

Shares of STERIS stock opened at $212.62 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.40. STERIS plc has a one year low of $197.82 and a one year high of $248.24. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $223.05 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $220.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.14 and a beta of 0.87.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 8.66%. Analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 20th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.07%. STERIS’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler increased their target price on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $240.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of STERIS in a research note on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, STERIS currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.75.

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.