West Pharmaceutical stock rises 2.71 percent after analyst upgrade
Published on 09/23/2026 at 10:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (US9523901012) closed at USD 371.58 on the NYSE on September 23, 2026, up 2.71 percent from the prior close. The move followed Morgan Stanley's upgrade from Equal-Weight to Overweight and a price target increase from USD 365 to USD 400 on September 22, 2026.
Morgan Stanley raises its target
According to Yahoo Finance on September 22, 2026, Morgan Stanley lifted its rating from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised the target from USD 365 to USD 400. The USD 35 increase equals a 9.6 percent target revision, while the new target stands 7.6 percent above the September 23 closing price.
Yahoo Finance reported on September 22, 2026, that Morgan Stanley sees potential for West Pharmaceutical's earnings per share to exceed current 2027 Wall Street estimates by at least 10 percent. That thesis gives the upgrade a forward earnings basis rather than relying only on the share price.
Q2 revenue beats expectations
West Pharmaceutical's latest reported quarter was the second quarter of 2026. According to MarketBeat on September 23, 2026, the company delivered EPS of USD 2.37 against a consensus estimate of USD 2.08 and revenue of USD 872.30 million against expectations of USD 839.98 million. Revenue increased 13.8 percent from the prior-year quarter, while EPS rose from USD 1.84 to USD 2.37.
The same report lists Q3 2026 EPS guidance of USD 2.140 to USD 2.240 and fiscal-year 2026 EPS guidance of USD 8.850 to USD 9.050. The quarterly guidance midpoint of USD 2.190 is USD 0.18 below the second-quarter EPS, so the next reported period will test whether the recent earnings strength can continue.
Valuation remains a counter-factor
The September 23 market snapshot placed West Pharmaceutical's market capitalization at USD 26.15 billion, with a 52-week range of USD 223.83 to USD 386.00 and volume of 730,419 shares. The close was USD 14.42 below the 52-week high, leaving the stock 3.7 percent under that level.
At the September 23 close, the company traded at a reported P/E ratio of 47.58. That valuation leaves less room for execution setbacks even though second-quarter revenue exceeded consensus by USD 32.32 million and EPS exceeded consensus by USD 0.29.
West Pharmaceutical stock closes near its yearly high
West Pharmaceutical stock closed at USD 371.58 on the NYSE on September 23, 2026, with a daily gain of 2.71 percent. The same market data recorded USD 26.15 billion in market capitalization, a 52-week range of USD 223.83 to USD 386.00 and volume of 730,419 shares.
West Pharmaceutical stock at a glance
- Company: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
- ISIN: US9523901012
- Ticker: WST
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price as of September 23, 2026: USD 371.58
- Market capitalization: USD 26.15 billion as of September 23, 2026
- Sector / Industry: Health Care / Medical Instruments and Supplies
