Should You Hold STERIS Stock in Your Portfolio Right Now?

Core Insights - STERIS plc's Healthcare segment is experiencing growth due to successful market adoption of its infection prevention products and capital equipment, with service revenues driving growth in the Applied Sterilization Technologies (AST) segment [2][4] - The company has shown sound financial health, but macroeconomic volatility and currency fluctuations pose concerns for its stock performance [2][10] Financial Performance - In the past year, STERIS shares increased by 4.8%, underperforming the industry growth of 17.8% and the S&P 500's rise of 18.4% [3] - The company has a market capitalization of $21.75 billion and an earnings yield of 4.20%, significantly higher than the industry's -5.82% [3] - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Healthcare reported an 8% year-over-year revenue growth, with consumable revenues up by 5% and capital equipment revenues up by 6% [4][8] Segment Analysis - The AST segment achieved a 13% year-over-year revenue growth, driven by a 12% increase in service revenues, with constant currency organic revenues in the low double digits [5][8] - The growth in the AST segment is attributed to bioprocessing demand and stable medical device volumes [5] Solvency and Debt - STERIS ended the first quarter of fiscal 2026 with $279.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, long-term debt of $1.90 billion, and a debt-to-capital ratio of 21.4%, down 2.2% year over year [9][8] Market Concerns - The macroeconomic environment is affecting STERIS' financial operations, with rising healthcare costs and procurement challenges impacting production costs [10][11] - Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations pose a risk, as nearly 30% of the company's revenues are generated outside the U.S., influenced by geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions [12] Future Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for STERIS' fiscal 2026 earnings per share indicates a 9.1% improvement at $10.06, with revenues expected to reach $5.91 billion, suggesting an 8.2% growth from fiscal 2024 [13]