Research analysts at Zacks Research have revised their earnings estimates for Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR) for the first quarter of 2026. In a report released on March 5, 2024, Zacks now anticipates the company will achieve earnings per share (EPS) of $0.17, a decrease from their previous estimate of $0.20. This rating shift comes alongside Zacks maintaining a “Strong Sell” rating for the stock.
The consensus estimate for Avantor’s full-year earnings has settled at $1.06 per share. Zacks has also projected earnings for subsequent quarters, forecasting $0.20 EPS for Q2 2026, $0.21 EPS for Q3 2026, and a total of $0.81 EPS for FY2026. Looking ahead, Q1 2027 is estimated at $0.21 EPS, with Q2, Q3, and Q4 2027 expected to yield $0.16, $0.23, and $0.22 EPS respectively. The full-year earnings forecast for 2027 is projected at $0.82, while FY2028 earnings are estimated at $0.84.
In its previous earnings report on February 11, 2024, Avantor recorded an EPS of $0.22, surpassing analysts’ predictions of $0.21 by $0.01. The company reported revenue of $1.66 billion, slightly above the estimated $1.64 billion. Despite the positive EPS outcome, Avantor experienced a net margin of -8.09% and a return on equity of 10.45%, with revenue showing a year-over-year decline of 1.4%.
Stock Performance and Insider Transactions
Following the news, shares of Avantor opened at $8.18 on March 8, 2024, reflecting a 4.0% decrease. The company currently boasts a market capitalization of $5.58 billion and carries a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.49. Avantor’s debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.70, with a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.18. Over the past year, its stock has fluctuated between a low of $8.14 and a high of $18.02.
In recent insider trading activities, Gregory T. Lucier, a director at Avantor, purchased 50,000 shares at an average price of $9.16 per share, resulting in a total transaction of $458,000. This acquisition increased his total holdings to 50,000 shares, valued at approximately $458,000. Another director, Gregory L. Summe, bought 100,000 shares at an average cost of $9.40, totaling $940,000 and raising his ownership by 33.33% to 400,000 shares, valued at $3.76 million. Currently, insiders hold approximately 1.20% of Avantor’s stock.
Institutional Investor Activity
Recent activity among institutional investors reflects shifts in their holdings of Avantor shares. Dodge & Cox increased its stake by 0.3% during the third quarter, now owning approximately 117.7 million shares, valued at $1.47 billion. Similarly, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings by 1.8%, acquiring 65.99 million shares worth about $823.5 million. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its stake by 10.8%, now holding 34.55 million shares valued at $431.16 million. Other notable movements include Wellington Management Group LLP, which entered a new position worth approximately $268.58 million, and Greenhaven Associates Inc., which increased its position by 12.0%, now owning 20.5 million shares valued at $234.94 million. Overall, institutional investors control approximately 95.08% of Avantor’s shares.
Avantor, Inc. is a global provider of essential products and services across various sectors, including biopharma, healthcare, education, and advanced technologies. Its offerings include high-purity chemicals, lab equipment, and custom manufacturing services, aimed at supporting critical research and production needs.
