Research analysts at Zacks Research have revised their earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR) for the first quarter of 2026. In a report released on March 5, 2026, the analysts now project that Avantor will report an EPS of $0.17, a decrease from their previous expectation of $0.20. Zacks has assigned a “Strong Sell” rating to the stock, reflecting a cautious outlook.
The consensus estimate for Avantor’s full-year earnings currently stands at $1.06 per share. Analysts have also offered projections for subsequent quarters in 2026 and 2027. For the second quarter of 2026, the expected EPS is $0.20, followed by $0.21 for the third quarter. The earnings forecast for the full fiscal year 2026 is $0.81, with estimates for the first quarter of 2027 at $0.21, second quarter at $0.16, third quarter at $0.23, fourth quarter at $0.22, and a full-year estimate for 2027 of $0.82. For 2028, the anticipated earnings are projected at $0.84.
Avantor recently announced its Q4 2025 earnings on February 11, 2026, reporting an EPS of $0.22, which surpassed analysts’ expectations of $0.21 by $0.01. The company achieved revenue of $1.66 billion during the quarter, exceeding the forecast of $1.64 billion. Despite this positive performance, Avantor recorded a negative net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 10.45%, with revenue declining by 1.4% year-over-year. In the same quarter of the previous year, Avantor had an EPS of $0.27. The company has provided guidance for FY 2026, estimating EPS between $0.770 and $0.830.
Stock Performance and Insider Transactions
Following the downgrade, shares of Avantor traded down by 4.0%, opening at $8.18 on the following Friday. The company’s market capitalization is approximately $5.58 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.49 and a PEG ratio of 3.21. Avantor’s debt-to-equity ratio is 0.70, while its current ratio is 1.78 and quick ratio stands at 1.18. The stock hit a one-year low of $8.14 and a high of $18.02, with 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $10.70 and $11.85 respectively.
In notable insider activity, Gregory T. Lucier, a director at Avantor, purchased 50,000 shares at an average price of $9.16 per share on February 19, 2026, amounting to a total investment of $458,000. Following this transaction, Lucier’s total ownership in Avantor increased significantly. Similarly, another director, Gregory L. Summe, acquired 100,000 shares at an average cost of $9.40 each on February 12, 2026, totaling $940,000. This purchase boosted Summe’s holdings to 400,000 shares, valued at approximately $3.76 million. Currently, company insiders own 1.20% of Avantor’s stock.
Institutional Investor Activity
Recent changes in institutional holdings reflect a dynamic environment surrounding Avantor. Dodge & Cox increased its stake by 0.3%, now holding 117,746,888 shares valued at about $1.47 billion after acquiring an additional 313,404 shares. Meanwhile, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake by 1.8%, owning 65,988,977 shares worth $823.54 million following a purchase of 1,135,279 shares.
Other firms, including Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC and Wellington Management Group LLP, have also made significant adjustments to their holdings, indicating increased institutional interest and investment in Avantor. 95.08% of Avantor’s stock is currently held by hedge funds and institutional investors, showcasing a trend towards consolidation among major financial players.
Avantor, Inc. is recognized as a global provider of essential products and services across various sectors, including biopharma, healthcare, and advanced technologies, delivering critical solutions that support research, development, and production processes. As the company navigates these challenges and changes, its market performance and strategic decisions will be pivotal in shaping its future trajectory.
