Stephens Inc. AR Raises Stock Position in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

Stephens Inc. AR raised its position in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (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 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BSX. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 1,352 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $115,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Adero Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Adero Partners LLC now owns 3,737 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $334,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the period. Grove Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 2,923 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 1.6% in 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 during the period. Finally, Stonegate Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in Boston Scientific by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 7,827 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $699,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. 89.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Boston Scientific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BSX opened at $106.16 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company 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 stock has a fifty day moving average price of $95.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $87.85. Boston Scientific Co. has a 1-year low of $65.00 and a 1-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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.05. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 11.07% and a return on equity of 18.11%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.83 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BSX has been the subject of several research reports. Citigroup lifted their target price on Boston Scientific from $107.00 to $122.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $100.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $105.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $107.39.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.78, for a total value of $633,916.74. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 29,308 shares in the company, valued at $2,660,580.24. This trade represents a 19.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 4,877 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.63, for a total transaction of $446,879.51. Following the transaction, the director now owns 39,398 shares in the company, valued at $3,610,038.74. The trade was a 11.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 87,326 shares of company stock valued at $8,673,948 in the last three months. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.