West Pharmaceutical stock holds firm after Q2 beat
Published on 08/21/2026 at 15:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. stock (US9523901012) had a market cap of $24.95 billion and a share price of $353.89 on August 20, 2026, while the latest reported quarter delivered $872.3 million in revenue and $2.37 in EPS on July 23, 2026.
The second-quarter top line beat the $839.98 million consensus by $32.32 million, and EPS came in $0.29 above the $2.08 estimate. The same snapshot also showed Q3 2026 guidance of $2.14 to $2.24 in EPS and full-year 2026 guidance of $8.85 to $9.05, giving investors a current range to anchor expectations.
Margins and guidance
West Pharmaceutical Services said revenue rose 13.8% year over year in the quarter, with net margin at 16.98% and return on equity at 20.11%. The reported $154 million in earnings for the quarter and the $8.93 EPS estimate for the current fiscal year show that the market still expects profitability to stay firm through 2026.
Consensus data put the average target price at $404.73, above the $353.89 close, which leaves the latest price action below the mean target. That gap matters more than a simple daily move because it frames how much of the earnings recovery is already in the stock.
What the numbers say
West Pharmaceutical Services' most recent quarter now looks less like a one-off beat and more like a benchmark for the rest of the year, because both sales and EPS exceeded estimates and management's 2026 guide remained intact. A 13.8% revenue increase versus the prior year and an EPS beat of $0.29 give the stock a clear fundamental reference point.
For investors, the next check point is whether the company can keep quarterly EPS inside the $2.14 to $2.24 range implied for Q3 2026. If it does, the current $404.73 consensus target looks easier to defend than it did before the July 23 report.
Products and pricing
The company's packaging and delivery systems remain centered on its proprietary products platform, which the linked market snapshot ties to the current earnings picture. That matters because the stock's valuation is still being read through recurring demand rather than a single large order.
Trading levels
West Pharmaceutical Services stock closed at $353.89 on August 20, 2026, after a 0.35% session gain, and the stock was up 28.46% for the year in the cited market snapshot. That leaves the shares below the $404.73 consensus target but well above the starting point of the year.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. remains a New York-listed medical instruments supplier, and the latest market snapshot puts the price at $353.89 as of August 20, 2026, 3:59:46 p.m. ET.
Fact box
Company: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
ISIN: US9523901012
Ticker: WST
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 20, 2026, 3:59:46 p.m. ET): $353.89 USD
Market cap: $24.95 billion (as of August 21, 2026)
Sector / Industry: Health Care / Health Care Equipment & Supplies
Index membership: S&P 500
