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Valued at a market cap of $21.7 billion, STERIS plc (STE) is a provider of products and services that support patient care with an emphasis on infection prevention. Based in Mentor, Ohio, operates through three segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies (AST), and Life Sciences.
Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally classified as “large-cap” stocks, and STERIS fits this description perfectly. STE is a leading provider of innovative healthcare and life sciences products and services, specializing in sterilization and surgical products for the healthcare system.
However, the company dropped 10.1% from its 52-week high of $248.24. Over the past three months, STERIS has surged 6.2%, outperforming the broader Dow Jones Industrials Average's ($DOWI) 2% decline.
Longer term, shares of STE have gained 7.2% on a YTD basis, surpassing DOWI's 1.3% decrease. However, STERIS has declined 2.9% over the past 52 weeks, whereas the Dow Jones rose 5.5% over the same time frame.
Despite a few fluctuations, STE has been trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since October 2024.
Shares of STE rose 2.1% following its Q3 2025 results on Feb. 5, driven by solid adjusted EPS of $2.32, up 9.9% year-over-year and in line with estimates. Gross margin expanded by 138 basis points to 44.5%. The Healthcare and AST segments performed well, growing 7% and 10%, respectively, with strong service and consumable revenue contributions. Additionally, robust operating cash flow of $887.3 million and a steady full-year EPS guidance range of $9.05 - $9.15 boosted investor confidence.
Further, in comparison, rival AdaptHealth Corp. (AHCO) has lagged behind STE. AHCO stock has decreased 9.8% over the past 52 weeks and saw a rise of 4.9% on a YTD basis.
Despite its underperformance compared to the Dow over the past year, analysts are bullish about STE’s prospects. With a consensus “Strong Buy” rating from seven analysts, the stock is currently trading below the mean price target of $256.67.
On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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