National Pension Service Grows Stock Holdings in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

National Pension Service grew its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 2.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,015,395 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 81,945 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service owned approximately 0.21% of Boston Scientific worth $174,320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BSX. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Motco grew its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 136.3% during the 3rd quarter. Motco now owns 645 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Boston Scientific by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 586 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC raised its holdings in Boston Scientific by 42.6% in the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 786 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the period. Finally, CNB Bank purchased a new position in Boston Scientific in the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.89, for a total value of $467,092.87. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,508 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,779,820.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.89, for a total value of $467,092.87. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,508 shares in the company, valued at $3,779,820.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP John Bradley Sorenson sold 17,587 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.50, for a total value of $1,257,470.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 50,638 shares in the company, valued at $3,620,617. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 82,330 shares of company stock valued at $5,682,434. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on BSX. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Boston Scientific from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $63.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $65.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $75.09.

Boston Scientific Stock Performance

Shares of BSX stock traded down $0.71 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $72.72. The stock had a trading volume of 5,036,563 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,595,854. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $68.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $61.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.69 billion, a PE ratio of 61.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.77. Boston Scientific Co. has a twelve month low of $48.35 and a twelve month high of $74.39.

Boston Scientific 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.