Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Forecast for MMSI Earnings

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research decreased their FY2025 EPS estimates for shares of Merit Medical Systems in a research note issued on Tuesday, March 18th. Zacks Research analyst I. Bandyopadhyay now forecasts that the medical instruments supplier will post earnings per share of $3.67 for the year, down from their prior forecast of $3.70. The consensus estimate for Merit Medical Systems’ current full-year earnings is $3.37 per share.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on MMSI. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $116.00 price objective (up previously from $114.00) on shares of Merit Medical Systems in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $122.00 to $116.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Barrington Research dropped their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $115.00 to $111.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $128.00 to $127.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Merit Medical Systems presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $110.78.

Merit Medical Systems Stock Up 0.4 %

MMSI stock opened at $101.68 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.82, a current ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Merit Medical Systems has a fifty-two week low of $70.70 and a fifty-two week high of $111.45. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $103.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $100.78. The stock has a market cap of $5.98 billion, a PE ratio of 49.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.91.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Merit Medical Systems

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 305.4% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 112,727 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $11,142,000 after buying an additional 84,923 shares during the period. EULAV Asset Management boosted its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 400.0% in the fourth quarter. EULAV Asset Management now owns 115,000 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $11,123,000 after buying an additional 92,000 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 3.2% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 221,690 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $21,910,000 after buying an additional 6,837 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 85.6% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 575,946 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $56,921,000 after buying an additional 265,648 shares during the period. Finally, AMI Asset Management Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 28.7% in the fourth quarter. AMI Asset Management Corp now owns 33,041 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $3,196,000 after buying an additional 7,367 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 99.66% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Brian G. Lloyd sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.50, for a total transaction of $2,487,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 38,993 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,879,803.50. This trade represents a 39.07 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Stephen C. Evans sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.31, for a total transaction of $526,550.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 4,657 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $490,428.67. This trade represents a 51.78 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 109,132 shares of company stock worth $11,139,521. Corporate insiders own 3.70% of the company’s stock.

About Merit Medical Systems

Merit Medical Systems, Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and markets single-use medical products for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Cardiovascular and Endoscopy. The company provides micropuncture kits, angiographic needles, sheaths, guide wires, and safety products; peripheral intervention, including angiography, drainage, delivery systems, and embolotherapy products; spine products, such as vertebral augmentation, radiofrequency ablation, and bone biopsy systems; oncology products; and cardiac intervention products, such as access, angiography, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management, fluid management, hemodynamic monitoring, hemostasis, and intervention to treat various heart conditions.