Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) Shares Sold by ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.

ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 626,600 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 7,739 shares during the quarter. Boston Scientific comprises approximately 1.9% of ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $36,224,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Greenleaf Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 9.7% in the fourth quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 24,734 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,430,000 after acquiring an additional 2,197 shares in the last quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $220,000. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 164,321 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $9,499,000 after buying an additional 2,388 shares in the last quarter. HTLF Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $325,000. Finally, Fidelis Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in Boston Scientific by 46.5% during the fourth quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 13,036 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $754,000 after acquiring an additional 4,138 shares during the period. 89.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $65.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Mizuho raised shares of Boston Scientific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the company from $65.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Boston Scientific from $68.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Boston Scientific from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Boston Scientific from $60.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $68.50.

Boston Scientific Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE BSX traded down $0.09 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $67.33. 6,951,272 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,377,005. The business’s 50 day moving average is $67.25 and its 200-day moving average is $59.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.32. Boston Scientific Co. has a 12-month low of $48.35 and a 12-month high of $69.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 62.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.78.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical equipment provider reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $3.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.59 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 11.19% and a return on equity of 15.99%. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.45 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Boston Scientific

In related news, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.03, for a total transaction of $455,210.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 41,374 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,690,551.22. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.89, for a total value of $467,092.87. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,508 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,779,820.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 7,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.03, for a total value of $455,210.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 41,374 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,690,551.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 50,979 shares of company stock worth $3,418,529. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.