Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $632.50.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Thermo Fisher Scientific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 28th. DZ Bank assumed coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Friday. They set a “buy” rating and a $610.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $696.00 to $683.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $583.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance

NYSE TMO opened at $473.83 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $530.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $547.35. The stock has a market cap of $176.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Thermo Fisher Scientific has a 52 week low of $385.46 and a 52 week high of $643.99.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The medical research company reported $6.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.45 by $0.12. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 16.92% and a net margin of 15.05%.The business had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.95 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.10 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific will post 23.28 EPS for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. This is a positive change from Thermo Fisher Scientific’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s payout ratio is currently 10.60%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $512.40, for a total transaction of $2,562,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 123,925 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $63,499,170. This trade represents a 3.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 400 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $541.20, for a total value of $216,480.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,752 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,230,982.40. The trade was a 1.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Thermo Fisher Scientific

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TMO. High Note Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 170.6% during the fourth quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 46 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP bought a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Olistico Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Birchwood Financial Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.23% of the company’s stock.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, software, and services that support research, clinical, and industrial laboratories. The company supplies analytical instruments and laboratory equipment, life sciences reagents and kits, specialty diagnostics, and a broad range of consumables used by researchers, clinicians, and manufacturers. Its offerings also include laboratory information management and data-analysis software, as well as service solutions such as instrument maintenance, validation, and logistics that help customers run complex workflows efficiently.

Thermo Fisher operates through multiple business areas that broadly cover life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services, including contract development and manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.