Graco (GGG) Shareholder Town & Country Bank & Trust Company Dba First Bankers Trust Company Has Raised Position; Merit Medical Systems (MMSI) Shareholder Pier Capital Has Lowered Its Holding as Stock Value Rose

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) Logo

Town & Country Bank & Trust Company Dba First Bankers Trust Company increased its stake in Graco Inc (GGG) by 200.3% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Town & Country Bank & Trust Company Dba First Bankers Trust Company bought 10,065 shares as the company’s stock declined 0.59% with the market. The institutional investor held 15,090 shares of the fluid controls company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $682,000, up from 5,025 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Town & Country Bank & Trust Company Dba First Bankers Trust Company who had been investing in Graco Inc for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $7.73B market cap company. The stock increased 2.53% or $1.13 during the last trading session, reaching $45.72. About 467,537 shares traded. Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) has risen 44.03% since April 1, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 32.48% the S&P500.

Pier Capital Llc decreased its stake in Merit Medical Systems Inc (MMSI) by 5.22% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Pier Capital Llc sold 7,481 shares as the company’s stock rose 1.16% while stock markets declined. The institutional investor held 135,951 shares of the health care company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $5.87 million, down from 143,432 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Pier Capital Llc who had been investing in Merit Medical Systems Inc for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $2.28 billion market cap company. The stock increased 2.60% or $1.15 during the last trading session, reaching $45.35. About 418,736 shares traded or 29.05% up from the average. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) has risen 52.36% since April 1, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 40.81% the S&P500.

Investors sentiment decreased to 1 in Q4 2017. Its down 0.28, from 1.28 in 2017Q3. It dived, as 29 investors sold MMSI shares while 69 reduced holdings. 29 funds opened positions while 69 raised stakes. 45.18 million shares or 1.94% more from 44.33 million shares in 2017Q3 were reported. Parkside Finance Savings Bank holds 27 shares or 0% of its portfolio. Moreover, Teachers Retirement System Of The State Of Kentucky has 0.01% invested in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) for 15,500 shares. Rothschild Asset Mgmt Incorporated reported 654,960 shares. Shell Asset reported 22,073 shares stake. Copper Rock Capital Partners Lc holds 1.82% in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) or 667,885 shares. Comerica Bancorp holds 52,586 shares or 0.02% of its portfolio. 48,561 are owned by Retail Bank Of Montreal Can. Eam Investors Limited Liability Corp invested in 55,210 shares or 0.31% of the stock. Pub Employees Retirement Association Of Colorado reported 0.1% in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI). Moreover, Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Tru has 0.28% invested in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) for 162,284 shares. X Mngmt Ltd Company holds 805 shares. Fmr Ltd Liability Co invested 0% of its portfolio in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI). Panagora Asset reported 0% in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI). Geode Cap Mngmt Limited Liability Co accumulated 511,459 shares. 38,882 were reported by Int Gp.

Analysts await Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) to report earnings on April, 26. They expect $0.30 EPS, up 7.14% or $0.02 from last year’s $0.28 per share. MMSI’s profit will be $15.08 million for 37.79 P/E if the $0.30 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.33 actual EPS reported by Merit Medical Systems, Inc. for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts -9.09% negative EPS growth.

Pier Capital Llc, which manages about $585.12 million US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Orasure Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:OSUR) by 101,459 shares to 360,089 shares, valued at $6.79M in 2017Q4, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in Raven Industries Inc (NASDAQ:RAVN) by 78,526 shares in the quarter, for a total of 169,500 shares, and has risen its stake in Omnicell Inc (NASDAQ:OMCL).

Since December 15, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 1 insider sale for $407,782 activity.

Among 8 analysts covering Merit Medical (NASDAQ:MMSI), 8 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 0 Hold. Therefore 100% are positive. Merit Medical had 22 analyst reports since October 23, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The stock has “Buy” rating by SunTrust on Tuesday, March 6. The rating was maintained by Wells Fargo on Thursday, November 30 with “Buy”. SunTrust maintained Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) rating on Thursday, November 16. SunTrust has “Buy” rating and $47.0 target. Canaccord Genuity maintained Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) rating on Tuesday, January 2. Canaccord Genuity has “Buy” rating and $50.0 target. The firm earned “Outperform” rating on Monday, August 28 by Raymond James. The firm earned “Buy” rating on Thursday, July 27 by Canaccord Genuity. The firm has “Buy” rating by Canaccord Genuity given on Monday, September 4. Canaccord Genuity maintained it with “Buy” rating and $45.0 target in Sunday, October 8 report. Barrington Research upgraded Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) on Monday, October 26 to “Outperform” rating. The stock has “Buy” rating by Canaccord Genuity on Thursday, October 26.

Since October 2, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 6 selling transactions for $11.41 million activity. $1.68M worth of Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) shares were sold by Rothe Christian E. CARROLL WILLIAM J sold 26,625 shares worth $1.24M. SHEAHAN MARK W sold 30,000 shares worth $3.94 million. Etchart Eric had sold 759 shares worth $94,799.

Investors sentiment increased to 9.88 in 2017 Q4. Its up 8.92, from 0.96 in 2017Q3. It increased, as 25 investors sold GGG shares while 7 reduced holdings. 59 funds opened positions while 257 raised stakes. 278.85 million shares or 493.55% more from 46.98 million shares in 2017Q3 were reported. Jfs Wealth Advisors Lc stated it has 105 shares. Oregon Pub Employees Retirement Fund has invested 0.04% in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG). Schroder Mgmt Grp Inc owns 663,600 shares. Old Mutual Investors (Uk) Ltd, United Kingdom-based fund reported 1.11M shares. Profund Advisors Limited holds 0.04% in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) or 20,868 shares. 9,309 were reported by Advisors Asset Mgmt. Utah Retirement Systems has invested 0.03% in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG). Moreover, Asset One Com Limited has 0.01% invested in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) for 72,921 shares. Wcm Investment Mngmt Ca reported 69,480 shares stake. Whittier Trust has 72,540 shares for 0.11% of their portfolio. Pennsylvania-based Brinker Cap Inc has invested 0.04% in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG). Retirement System Of Alabama holds 0.05% or 217,737 shares in its portfolio. Nebraska-based Cwm Ltd Liability Corp has invested 0% in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG). Atlantic Tru Group Ltd Liability Corporation has 522 shares. Liberty Mutual Gru Inc Asset Management Inc invested 0.06% in Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG).

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) Institutional Positions Chart