Scharf Investments LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in Smith & Nephew SNATS, Inc. $SNN

Scharf Investments LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS, Inc. (NYSE:SNN) by 16.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,692,649 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after selling 336,402 shares during the period. Scharf Investments LLC’s holdings in Smith & Nephew SNATS were worth $55,536,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SNN. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS by 6,663.4% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,210,655 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $37,082,000 after buying an additional 1,192,755 shares during the last quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS in the third quarter worth about $26,319,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in Smith & Nephew SNATS by 49.2% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,771,401 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $50,255,000 after acquiring an additional 583,809 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in Smith & Nephew SNATS by 139.9% during the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 987,274 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $35,828,000 after acquiring an additional 575,666 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in Smith & Nephew SNATS by 365.1% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 644,525 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $19,742,000 after acquiring an additional 505,934 shares in the last quarter. 25.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Smith & Nephew SNATS Trading Up 0.7%

Smith & Nephew SNATS stock opened at $31.81 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $34.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $34.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 2.57 and a quick ratio of 1.25. Smith & Nephew SNATS, Inc. has a 1 year low of $23.91 and a 1 year high of $38.79.

Smith & Nephew SNATS (NYSE:SNN) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The medical equipment provider reported $29.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.60 billion during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Smith & Nephew SNATS, Inc. will post 1.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Smith & Nephew SNATS Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 27th will be given a $0.482 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 304.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 27th.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on SNN. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Smith & Nephew SNATS from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Sunday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $36.25.

About Smith & Nephew SNATS

Smith & Nephew plc is a global medical technology company specializing in the design, development and manufacture of advanced surgical devices, orthopaedic reconstruction implants, trauma and extremities products, sports medicine solutions and wound care therapies. Founded in 1856 in Hull, United Kingdom, the company has grown through both organic innovation and strategic acquisitions to offer a broad portfolio that addresses patient needs across joint replacement, minimally invasive surgery and wound healing.

In its orthopaedics business, Smith & Nephew provides hip and knee replacement systems, modular joint revision implants and biologic solutions for bone repair.