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West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST)
NYSE:WST

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) AI Stock Analysis

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West Pharmaceutical Services

(NYSE:WST)

Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$228.00
▲( 9.36% Upside)
West Pharmaceutical Services' strong financial performance and positive earnings guidance are notable strengths, supporting the company's long-term growth and stability. However, technical analysis and valuation metrics indicate cautious market sentiment and high expectations. The earnings call provides a balanced view with both opportunities and challenges, resulting in a moderate overall score.
Positive Factors
Earnings
First-quarter results came in above consensus estimates across all key metrics, and guidance was raised across the board.
Market Growth
The company has a significant presence in the biologics market, which is experiencing strong growth, contributing to potential margin improvements.
Market Position
WST is a leading pharma packaging company with a market share of over 70%.
Negative Factors
Cost Management
No mitigations to offset $20 million-$25 million tariff costs have been announced.
FY25 Guidance
The FY25 guidance surprised investors due to one-off issues, raising concerns about short-term performance.

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

West Pharmaceutical Services Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWest Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers stoppers and seals for injectable packaging systems; syringe and cartridge components, including custom solutions for the needs of injectable drug applications, as well as administration systems that enhance the safe delivery of drugs through advanced reconstitution, mixing, and transfer technologies; and films, coatings, washing, and vision inspection and sterilization processes and services to enhance the quality of packaging components. It also provides drug containment solutions, including Crystal Zenith, a cyclic olefin polymer in the form of vials, syringes, and cartridges; and self-injection devices, as well as a range of integrated solutions, including analytical lab services, pre-approval primary packaging support and engineering development, regulatory expertise, and after-sales technical support. This segment serves biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug companies. The Contract-Manufactured Products segment is involved in the design, manufacture, and automated assembly of devices used in surgical, diagnostic, ophthalmic, injectable, and other drug delivery systems, as well as consumer products. It serves pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medical device companies. The company distributes its products through its sales force and distribution network, as well as contract sales agents and regional distributors. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1923 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyWest Pharmaceutical Services generates revenue through the sale of its proprietary products and services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. The company’s revenue streams are primarily derived from its two main business segments: Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment focuses on the sale of West's branded packaging components and systems, which are critical in maintaining drug stability and efficacy. The Contract-Manufactured Products segment involves the manufacturing of components for third-party healthcare and consumer companies. Additionally, West benefits from long-term partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, which often result in recurring revenue from ongoing supply agreements. The company’s emphasis on innovation and quality, along with its global manufacturing and distribution network, significantly contributes to its financial performance.

West Pharmaceutical Services Financial Statement Overview

Summary
West Pharmaceutical Services demonstrates strong financial health with consistent profitability and a solid balance sheet. Despite slight revenue and profit fluctuations, the company maintains efficient operations and prudent leverage management. The cash flow position is stable, supporting long-term growth and financial flexibility.
Income Statement
80
Positive
West Pharmaceutical Services exhibits stable revenue with a slight decline in recent periods. The gross profit margin remains strong, indicating efficient cost management, while net profit margins show a slight decrease. The EBIT and EBITDA margins demonstrate healthy operational efficiency despite recent fluctuations in revenue.
Balance Sheet
85
Very Positive
The company maintains a solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio, indicating prudent leverage management. Return on equity is stable, reflecting consistent profitability. The equity ratio is robust, underscoring a strong equity position relative to assets.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
Operating cash flow is strong, supporting the company's ability to generate cash. While free cash flow has seen some decline, the company's cash flow ratios indicate a healthy conversion of net income to cash, with sufficient free cash flow to support investments and financing activities.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
2.90B2.89B2.95B2.89B2.83B2.15B
Gross Profit
1.00B998.50M1.13B1.14B1.18B767.80M
EBIT
558.70M569.90M676.00M734.00M752.30M406.90M
EBITDA
729.50M743.80M844.10M887.90M895.20M531.70M
Net Income Common Stockholders
467.20M492.70M593.40M585.90M661.80M346.20M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
601.80M484.60M853.90M894.30M762.60M615.50M
Total Assets
3.60B3.64B3.83B3.62B3.31B2.79B
Total Debt
306.60M302.30M309.00M317.90M325.30M325.70M
Net Debt
-295.20M-182.30M-544.90M-576.40M-437.30M-289.80M
Total Liabilities
921.70M961.10M948.50M931.90M978.40M939.30M
Stockholders Equity
2.68B2.68B2.88B2.68B2.34B1.85B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
306.90M276.40M414.50M439.40M330.60M298.10M
Operating Cash Flow
664.60M653.40M776.50M724.00M584.00M472.50M
Investing Cash Flow
-359.40M-378.70M-368.70M-288.20M-253.10M-179.50M
Financing Cash Flow
-498.60M-622.60M-459.60M-293.60M-168.10M-137.10M

West Pharmaceutical Services Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price208.49
Price Trends
50DMA
215.37
Negative
100DMA
253.13
Negative
200DMA
280.83
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.03
Negative
RSI
44.98
Neutral
STOCH
44.40
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WST, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 208.49 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 212.65, below the 50-day MA of 215.37, and below the 200-day MA of 280.83, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.03 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 44.98 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.40 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for WST.

West Pharmaceutical Services Risk Analysis

West Pharmaceutical Services disclosed 34 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. West Pharmaceutical Services reported the most risks in the “Legal & Regulatory” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

West Pharmaceutical Services Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (53)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
ATATR
78
Outperform
$10.47B28.9815.15%1.11%0.34%17.27%
WSWST
68
Neutral
$14.98B32.7417.42%0.40%-1.14%-16.35%
66
Neutral
$12.14B23.0011.77%1.66%21.95%
58
Neutral
$8.47B116.65-23.93%-0.12%-713.82%
BABAX
57
Neutral
$16.14B136.07-8.96%3.02%-20.17%-138.32%
56
Neutral
$6.77B-1.16%4.88%-196.93%
53
Neutral
$5.14B3.06-43.57%2.81%16.81%-0.12%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WST
West Pharmaceutical Services
208.49
-119.14
-36.36%
ATR
AptarGroup
156.65
10.21
6.97%
BAX
Baxter International
30.27
-2.85
-8.61%
HOLX
Hologic
54.48
-19.51
-26.37%
MASI
Masimo
149.91
25.16
20.17%
RGEN
Repligen
120.45
-38.33
-24.14%

West Pharmaceutical Services Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 24, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -4.34%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mix of positive and negative aspects. While there were several areas of growth, particularly in the GLP-1 market and progress with AnnexOne, there were also notable challenges. These include reduced growth expectations for HPP components, a decline in FluroTech product sales, and challenges with contract manufacturing margins. The announcement of CFO Bernard Birkett's departure adds to the uncertainty. Overall, the highlights and lowlights are balanced.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and EPS Beat Expectations
First quarter revenues and adjusted EPS exceeded expectations, largely driven by the GLP-1 market and reduced impact from industry-wide destocking.
Growth in Proprietary Products and Biologics
Proprietary products business grew by 0.6% (2.4% on an organic basis), with HVP components experiencing a CAGR of 13% over the past five years. Biologics market unit delivered mid-single digit organic net sales growth.
AnnexOne Progress
AnnexOne revenues were stronger than expected, contributing 200 basis points of total revenues, with 340 projects in various stages, up from 280 in the last earnings call.
GLP-1 Auto Injector Business Growth
Revenue growth in the GLP-1 auto injector business offset CGM contract exits, delivering low single digit growth for the contract manufacturing segment.
Improved Operating Margins
Gross profit margin increased by 10 basis points to 33.2%, and adjusted operating profit margin increased by 20 basis points to 17.9% year-over-year.
Negative Updates
Reduced Revenue Growth Expectations for HPP Components
Revenue growth for HPP components is now expected to be mid-single digits in 2025, down from previous expectations of mid-to-high single digits due to mix and timing.
Decline in FluroTech Product Sales
The Biologics market unit experienced lower sales of FluroTech products, impacting sales growth.
Challenges with Contract Manufacturing Margins
Contract Manufacturing segment's gross profit margin decreased by 90 basis points due to increased spend and production inefficiencies.
Adjusted EPS Decline
Adjusted diluted EPS declined by 7.1% for Q1, despite operational improvements in other areas.
Executive Leadership Changes
Announcement of CFO Bernard Birkett's departure, requiring a search for a successor, indicating potential transitional challenges.
Company Guidance
During the West Pharmaceutical Services first quarter 2025 earnings call, the company provided guidance for the full fiscal year 2025. They increased their full-year revenue guidance to a range of $2.945 billion to $2.975 billion, up from the previous range of $2.875 billion to $2.905 billion, partly due to foreign currency exchange impacts. Organic sales growth is expected to be approximately 2% to 3%. The adjusted diluted EPS guidance was also raised to $6.15 to $6.35, compared to the previous range of $6.00 to $6.20. The guidance reflects a positive momentum, driven by strong performance in their GLP-1 elastomer business, which grew to 7% of total revenues, and anticipated high single-digit growth in Biologics HVP components in the second half of the year. However, the company noted a tariff headwind of $20 million to $25 million for the remaining three quarters, with mitigations being actively pursued.

West Pharmaceutical Services Corporate Events

Shareholder Meetings
West Pharmaceutical Services Hosts 2025 Shareholder Meeting
Neutral
May 8, 2025

West Pharmaceutical Services held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders virtually on May 6, 2025, where shareholders voted on five proposals. The proposals included the election of directors, approval of executive compensation, amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, and the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the accounting firm for 2025. Significant shareholder participation was noted, with 89.93% of common shares represented at the meeting.

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
West Pharmaceutical Services Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Apr 24, 2025

On April 24, 2025, West Pharmaceutical Services announced its first-quarter 2025 financial results, reporting net sales of $698.0 million, a slight increase from the previous year. The company also raised its full-year 2025 net sales and adjusted-diluted EPS guidance, reflecting confidence in its operational performance and market positioning. Despite a decline in reported-diluted EPS, the company’s strategic focus on high-value products and self-injection devices has driven growth in the Proprietary Products Segment. Additionally, West Pharmaceutical declared a third-quarter 2025 dividend, indicating a positive outlook for stakeholders.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
West Pharmaceutical Announces Leadership Changes Amid Succession Planning
Neutral
Apr 24, 2025

West Pharmaceutical Services announced significant leadership changes as part of its succession planning. Bernard Birkett, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will retire later in 2025, with a search for his successor already underway. Shane Campbell has been appointed as the Senior Vice President, Chief Proprietary Segment Officer, effective May 5, 2025, bringing extensive global management experience to the role. These changes are expected to support West’s strategic goals and long-term growth.

Executive/Board Changes
West Pharmaceutical Announces Departure of Senior Executive
Neutral
Apr 14, 2025

On March 7, 2025, West Pharmaceutical Services announced the departure of Cindy Reiss-Clark, former Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. As part of her severance, she will receive salary continuation, welfare benefits, a pro-rated incentive payment, and outplacement services, in exchange for releasing claims against the company and adhering to noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants.

Executive/Board Changes
West Pharmaceutical Announces Leadership Transition
Neutral
Mar 11, 2025

On March 7, 2025, West Pharmaceutical Services announced the departure of Cindy Reiss-Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately. Her responsibilities will be temporarily managed by Aileen Kinsella, indicating a transitional phase in the company’s leadership structure.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.