Merit Financial Group LLC Has $5.33 Million Position in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 8.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 92,274 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after buying an additional 7,162 shares during the quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $5,334,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Motco increased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 136.3% in the third quarter. Motco now owns 645 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings 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 buying an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC boosted its position in Boston Scientific by 42.6% in the 3rd 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 last quarter. Finally, CNB Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. 89.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Scientific

In other news, CFO Daniel J. Brennan sold 13,662 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.86, for a total transaction of $899,779.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 271,542 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,883,756.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CFO Daniel J. Brennan sold 13,662 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.86, for a total transaction of $899,779.32. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 271,542 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,883,756.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Edward J. Ludwig sold 7,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 41,374 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,690,551.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 78,384 shares of company stock worth $5,395,560. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Boston Scientific Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE:BSX traded up $0.83 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $72.86. 7,452,079 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,661,660. The company has a market cap of $109.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 61.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.77. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $68.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Boston Scientific Co. has a one year low of $48.35 and a one year high of $74.39.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical equipment provider reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.04. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 12.06% and a return on equity of 16.63%. The company had revenue of $3.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.59 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.45 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.32 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BSX has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Boston Scientific from $63.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted 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. TD Cowen raised their price objective 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. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Boston Scientific from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $74.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Boston Scientific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $75.09.

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.