Company Overview - STERIS plc, based in Mentor, Ohio, specializes in infection prevention, decontamination, microbial reduction, and surgical and gastrointestinal support products and services, founded in 1985 [1] - The company's current market capitalization is $24.5 billion, with the Q3 2026 earnings report expected to be released soon [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts predict STERIS will generate earnings of $2.53 per share for Q3 2026, reflecting a 9.1% increase from $2.32 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the expected EPS is $10.23, indicating an 11% increase from $9.22 reported in fiscal 2024, with further growth anticipated to $11.11 in fiscal 2027, an 8.6% year-over-year increase [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, STERIS shares have increased by 25.5%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 17.1% rise and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF's 14.3% return [4] - Following the release of its Q2 2026 earnings, STERIS shares closed up by 6.9%, with quarterly revenue reported at $1.5 billion, exceeding Wall Street estimates, and an adjusted EPS of $2.47 also surpassing projections [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view among analysts is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall; six out of nine analysts recommend a "Strong Buy," while three suggest a "Hold" [6] - The mean price target for STERIS is $288.86, indicating an 11.4% potential upside from current price levels [6]

Company Overview - STERIS plc is valued at a market cap of $24.4 billion and is a leading global provider of infection prevention, decontamination, and surgical products and services, primarily serving the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and research industries [1] - The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and has been operational since 1985, supporting hospitals, laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies with sterilization and surgical solutions [1] Market Position - STERIS is classified as a "large-cap" stock, with a strong base of recurring revenues from consumables, service contracts, and equipment maintenance, providing stability and resilience [2] - The company has a global presence in over 100 countries and maintains a durable competitive edge in highly regulated and growing healthcare markets [2] Stock Performance - STERIS shares recently reached a 52-week high of $253 on September 12, with a 2.8% increase over the past three months, outperforming the iShares U.S. Medical Devices (IHI), which saw a 1.2% dip [3] - Year-to-date, STE shares have gained 20.6%, significantly outpacing IHI's 3.4% increase, and have returned 18% over the past 52 weeks compared to IHI's marginal increase [4] Financial Performance - On August 6, STERIS reported strong Q1 FY2026 results, with revenue rising 9% to $1.39 billion and adjusted EPS improving 15% to $2.34, driven by strength across segments, particularly Applied Sterilization Technologies and Healthcare [5] - The company benefited from margin expansion, firm pricing, and operational efficiencies, leading management to raise its full-year revenue growth outlook to 8–9% from a previous 6–7% and increase its free cash flow forecast to $820 million [5] Competitive Landscape - In contrast, key rival AdaptHealth Corp. (AHCO) has underperformed, with its stock decreasing by 19.3% over the past 52 weeks and a decline of 3.2% year-to-date [6]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Style Scores categorize stocks based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, assigning ratings from A to F [3] - Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [4] - Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential based on earnings and cash flow [5] - Momentum Score identifies trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to optimize entry points for investments [6] - VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to highlight stocks with the best overall characteristics [6] Zacks Rank and Style Scores Interaction - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in stock selection [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500, achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [7] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal success [9] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial; stocks with lower ranks but high Style Scores may still face downward price pressure [10] Company Spotlight: Steris plc - Steris plc specializes in infection prevention and surgical support products, having rebranded after acquiring Synergy Health plc in 2015 [11] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A, Steris is positioned as a potential growth investment [11] - The company forecasts a year-over-year earnings growth of 9.8% for the current fiscal year, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions [12] - Steris has an average earnings surprise of +2%, indicating strong performance relative to expectations [12]