Virtu Financial LLC Buys Shares of 2,096 Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI)

Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 2,096 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock, valued at approximately $203,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of MMSI. NewSquare Capital LLC acquired a new position in Merit Medical Systems during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Merit Medical Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $52,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 237.7% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,388 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 977 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Merit Medical Systems by 14.7% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,494 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $144,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Merit Medical Systems by 13.9% during the third quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 1,732 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. 99.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other Merit Medical Systems news, CEO Fred P. Lampropoulos sold 31,320 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.86, for a total value of $3,252,895.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,086,028 shares in the company, valued at $112,794,868.08. This trade represents a 2.80 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Brian G. Lloyd sold 25,000 shares of the company’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 sale, the insider now directly owns 38,993 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,879,803.50. The trade was a 39.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 109,132 shares of company stock valued at $11,139,521. 3.70% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Merit Medical Systems Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MMSI opened at $103.94 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.12 billion, a PE ratio of 50.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.91. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has a 52 week low of $70.70 and a 52 week high of $111.45. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $104.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $101.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 3.82 and a current ratio of 5.36.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MMSI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barrington Research dropped their price target on Merit Medical Systems from $115.00 to $111.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target 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. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $120.00 to $117.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $116.00 price objective (up from $114.00) on shares of Merit Medical Systems in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Merit Medical Systems in a report on Friday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $111.70.

Merit Medical Systems Profile

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.