ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. Purchases 1,761 Shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. increased its position in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) by 0.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 617,304 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,761 shares during the period. Boston Scientific makes up 2.3% of ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest holding. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $55,138,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 18.9% during the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,261 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,252,000 after buying an additional 2,582 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in Boston Scientific by 71.6% in the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 333,963 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $25,718,000 after acquiring an additional 139,392 shares in the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Boston Scientific by 15.0% during the 2nd quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 10,767 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $829,000 after purchasing an additional 1,403 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 8.2% during the 2nd quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 216,039 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $16,637,000 after purchasing an additional 16,430 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 29,986.6% in the second quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 20,158 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $1,552,000 after purchasing an additional 20,091 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.07% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 14,010 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.27, for a total transaction of $1,250,672.70. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 978 shares in the company, valued at $87,306.06. The trade was a 93.47 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP John Bradley Sorenson sold 4,119 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.02, for a total transaction of $370,792.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 35,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,179,416.38. This represents a 10.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 29,989 shares of company stock valued at $2,702,261. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Boston Scientific Price Performance

Boston Scientific stock opened at $98.73 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $91.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $84.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $145.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 81.60, a PEG ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Boston Scientific Co. has a one year low of $59.85 and a one year high of $99.14.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.04. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 17.23% and a net margin of 11.26%. The business had revenue of $4.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.04 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.50 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.46 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on BSX shares. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $95.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $92.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Boston Scientific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $97.26.

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.