West Pharmaceutical stock gains as Morgan Stanley turns bullish
Published on 09/22/2026 at 18:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
West Pharmaceutical stock gained a fresh analyst catalyst on September 22, 2026, after Morgan Stanley raised its rating from Equal-weight to Overweight and set a USD 400 price target, according to Markets Today. The upgrade puts the emphasis on earnings potential rather than a short-term product announcement.
Morgan Stanley raises its target
The September 22, 2026 update changed Morgan Stanley's stance from Equal-weight to Overweight and placed the price target at USD 400, according to Markets Today. The source does not state the previous target, so the article uses only the published new target and rating change.
A separate September 22, 2026 report said Morgan Stanley sees potential for West Pharmaceutical earnings per share to exceed current 2027 Wall Street estimates by at least 10 percent, as reported by Yahoo Finance. That quantified comparison explains why the rating change matters: the thesis centers on future earnings upside rather than only valuation.
Second-quarter revenue beats estimates
West Pharmaceutical reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of USD 872.3 million and adjusted earnings per share of USD 2.37, according to the September 22, 2026 coverage from Zacks. Revenue exceeded consensus by 4.2 percent, while adjusted EPS beat the consensus estimate by 13.9 percent.
The two figures provide a concrete operating comparison for investors. Revenue reached USD 872.3 million in Q2/2026 versus the consensus benchmark, and adjusted EPS of USD 2.37 also came in above expectations by 13.9 percent, according to Zacks. The earnings surprise gives the Morgan Stanley upgrade a current reporting-period anchor.
Forecasts point to higher earnings
September 22, 2026 coverage from Zacks said the consensus estimate for 2026 earnings had risen 3.8 percent over the previous 60 days to USD 8.93 per share. The same report put consensus 2026 revenue at USD 3.37 billion, representing a 9.7 percent increase from the 2025 reported level.
That forecast comparison is the key counterweight to the bullish rating. The market case depends on the projected 9.7 percent revenue increase and the 22.5 percent implied earnings gain cited by Zacks; any shortfall in demand, margins or delivery-system volumes would challenge those estimates.
West Pharmaceutical stock and the USD 400 target
West Pharmaceutical stock carries the ticker WST and trades on the New York Stock Exchange in USD. The published analyst target is USD 400 as of September 22, 2026, while the current earnings evidence consists of Q2/2026 revenue of USD 872.3 million, adjusted EPS of USD 2.37, a 4.2 percent revenue beat and a 13.9 percent EPS beat.
West Pharmaceutical stock facts
- Company: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
- ISIN: US9523901012
- Ticker: WST
- Trading venue: New York Stock Exchange
- Sector / Industry: Health Care / Life Sciences Tools and Services
- Analyst target: USD 400 as of September 22, 2026
