WST
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. Healthcare - Medical Supplies Investor Relations →
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (WST) closed at $248.95 as of 2026-02-02, trading 17.8% below its 200-week moving average of $302.68. This places WST in the extreme value zone. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from -23.9% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 37, indicating neutral momentum.
Over the past 2346 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 $17.9 billion, WST is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 1.4%. Return on equity stands at 16.9%, a solid level. The stock trades at 5.9x book value.
WST is a Dividend Aristocrat, having increased its dividend for 25 or more consecutive years. The current yield is 35.00%. Management has been repurchasing shares, with a 2.6% 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 $7095, compared to $2849 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 13.7% vs 10.6% 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 declining at a -5.8% compound annual rate. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.
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% | +27958.2% |
| Jul 1984 | Feb 1985 | 29 | 13.6% | +55.4% | +20691.3% |
| Apr 1985 | Apr 1985 | 1 | 1.8% | +50.3% | +17850.3% |
| Nov 1987 | Dec 1987 | 1 | 5.8% | +14.0% | +13734.5% |
| Mar 1988 | May 1988 | 7 | 12.2% | +23.7% | +12918.8% |
| Jul 1988 | Jul 1988 | 1 | 0.1% | +37.1% | +12323.9% |
| Aug 1988 | Dec 1988 | 20 | 11.3% | +56.6% | +12662.8% |
| Aug 1990 | Apr 1991 | 34 | 33.5% | +7.1% | +10521.7% |
| May 1991 | May 1991 | 3 | 1.8% | +37.3% | +10613.7% |
| Dec 1995 | Jan 1996 | 4 | 2.6% | +27.3% | +6504.6% |
| Feb 1996 | May 1996 | 13 | 6.0% | +26.4% | +6398.9% |
| Jul 1996 | Aug 1996 | 1 | 0.1% | +25.5% | +6127.0% |
| Aug 1998 | Sep 1998 | 2 | 3.0% | +47.7% | +5279.5% |
| Feb 2000 | Feb 2002 | 104 | 32.0% | -7.8% | +4759.5% |
| Jul 2002 | May 2003 | 42 | 36.0% | +2.1% | +5002.3% |
| Jun 2003 | Jun 2003 | 2 | 1.8% | +74.1% | +5196.0% |
| Nov 2008 | Aug 2009 | 39 | 23.7% | +8.5% | +1493.5% |
| Nov 2009 | Nov 2009 | 4 | 2.8% | +4.7% | +1368.8% |
| Dec 2009 | Mar 2010 | 11 | 9.3% | +9.5% | +1337.5% |
| May 2010 | Dec 2010 | 29 | 16.3% | +17.5% | +1300.4% |
| Aug 2011 | Oct 2011 | 7 | 3.7% | +26.1% | +1325.5% |
| Nov 2011 | Jan 2012 | 9 | 7.1% | +37.8% | +1339.6% |
| Sep 2022 | Jan 2023 | 18 | 16.9% | +46.9% | -1.1% |
| May 2024 | Ongoing | 90+ | 40.2% | Ongoing | -24.5% |
| Average | 20 | — | +32.2% | — |
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 Friday close, 2026-02-02