WST
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. Healthcare - Medical Supplies Investor Relations →
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (WST) closed at $237.03 as of 2026-03-20, trading 21.1% below its 200-week moving average of $300.31. This places WST in the extreme value zone. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from -21.7% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 37, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.2x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (0.98 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 2352 weeks of data, WST has crossed below its 200-week moving average 24 times. On average, these episodes lasted 20 weeks. Historically, investors who bought WST at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +32.2%.
With a market cap of $17.1 billion, WST is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 1.6%. Return on equity stands at 16.9%, a solid level. The stock trades at 5.4x book value.
WST is a Dividend Aristocrat, having increased its dividend for 25 or more consecutive years. The current yield is 37.00%. Management has been repurchasing shares, with a 2.8% reduction over three years. WST passes our Buffett quality screen: high return on equity, low debt, and positive free cash flow.
Over the past 33.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in WST would have grown to $6756, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 13.5% vs 10.4% for the index — confirming WST as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been volatile over the past several years, making the quality of earnings harder to assess.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: WST vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After WST Crosses Below the Line?
Across 16 historical episodes, buying WST when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +21.4% after 12 months (median +21.0%), compared to +20.3% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 80% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +43.7% vs +40.4% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment WST crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
WST has crossed below its 200-week MA 24 times with an average 1-year return of +32.2% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1982 | Aug 1982 | 1 | 0.1% | +111.7% | +26614.7% |
| Jul 1984 | Feb 1985 | 29 | 13.6% | +55.4% | +19695.8% |
| Apr 1985 | Apr 1985 | 1 | 1.8% | +50.3% | +16990.8% |
| Nov 1987 | Dec 1987 | 1 | 5.8% | +14.0% | +13072.1% |
| Mar 1988 | May 1988 | 7 | 12.2% | +23.7% | +12295.4% |
| Jul 1988 | Jul 1988 | 1 | 0.1% | +37.1% | +11729.1% |
| Aug 1988 | Dec 1988 | 20 | 11.3% | +56.6% | +12051.7% |
| Aug 1990 | Apr 1991 | 34 | 33.5% | +7.1% | +10013.2% |
| May 1991 | May 1991 | 3 | 1.8% | +37.3% | +10100.7% |
| Dec 1995 | Jan 1996 | 4 | 2.6% | +27.3% | +6188.4% |
| Feb 1996 | May 1996 | 13 | 6.0% | +26.4% | +6087.7% |
| Jul 1996 | Aug 1996 | 1 | 0.1% | +25.5% | +5828.9% |
| Aug 1998 | Sep 1998 | 2 | 3.0% | +47.7% | +5022.0% |
| Feb 2000 | Feb 2002 | 104 | 32.0% | -7.8% | +4526.8% |
| Jul 2002 | May 2003 | 42 | 36.0% | +2.1% | +4758.0% |
| Jun 2003 | Jun 2003 | 2 | 1.8% | +74.1% | +4942.4% |
| Nov 2008 | Aug 2009 | 39 | 23.7% | +8.5% | +1417.2% |
| Nov 2009 | Nov 2009 | 4 | 2.8% | +4.7% | +1298.4% |
| Dec 2009 | Mar 2010 | 11 | 9.3% | +9.5% | +1268.7% |
| May 2010 | Dec 2010 | 29 | 16.3% | +17.5% | +1233.3% |
| Aug 2011 | Oct 2011 | 7 | 3.7% | +26.1% | +1257.3% |
| Nov 2011 | Jan 2012 | 9 | 7.1% | +37.8% | +1270.6% |
| Sep 2022 | Jan 2023 | 18 | 16.9% | +46.9% | -5.9% |
| May 2024 | Ongoing | 96+ | 40.2% | Ongoing | -28.1% |
| Average | 20 | — | +32.2% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WST below its 200-week moving average?
Yes. As of 2026-03-20, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (WST) is trading 21.1% below its 200-week moving average of $300.31. The current price is $237.03.
What is WST's 200-week moving average price?
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $300.31 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when WST drops below its 200-week moving average?
WST has crossed below its 200-week moving average 24 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +32.2%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 20 weeks on average.
Is WST a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about WST as of 2026-03-20: The stock is below its 200-week moving average, which is the starting point for our analysis. The 14-week RSI is 37. Free cash flow yield is 1.6%. Return on equity is 16.9%. Price-to-book is 5.4x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does WST compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.2 years, $100 invested in WST would have grown to $6756, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That's 13.5% annualized vs 10.4% for the index. WST has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does WST pay a dividend?
Yes. West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. currently pays a dividend yield of 37.00%. It is also a Dividend Aristocrat, meaning it has raised its dividend for 25 or more consecutive years.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20