STE
HealthcareSTERIS plc · Medical - Devices · $21B
What is STERIS plc?
STERIS plc is a global provider of infection prevention, sterilization, and procedural products and services. Headquartered in Dublin and founded in 1992, the company serves hospitals, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and dental practices worldwide.
STERIS generates revenue across four business segments. Its Healthcare segment supplies sterile processing equipment, surgical room solutions, and maintenance services to hospitals. The Applied Sterilization Technologies segment runs a network of contract sterilization facilities serving medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Life Sciences segment sells consumable cleaning chemistries and sterilization equipment to biopharma customers. A Dental segment rounds out the portfolio with infection prevention products for dental practices.
STERIS was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
- Sterile processing equipment and cleaning chemistries for hospitals
- Contract sterilization and laboratory testing services
- Surgical tables, lights, and operating room connectivity solutions
- Consumable barrier and sterility assurance products for life sciences
- Endoscope reprocessing systems and instrument repair services
Is STE a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates STE as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile across the five quality pillars.
The Risk pillar and Valuation pillar are the relative standouts in STERIS's profile. The company's diversified revenue streams — spanning recurring consumables, long-term service contracts, and capital equipment — contribute to a risk profile that compares favorably within the healthcare sector. Valuation also registers as Good, suggesting the market is not pricing in excessive optimism.
Quality, Moat, and Growth all land at Neutral, indicating that while STERIS is a stable operator, it has not yet demonstrated the kind of durable competitive advantages or above-sector growth trajectory that would push it into the top tier.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does STE pay dividends?
Yes — STERIS plc pays a dividend.
STERIS pays a regular dividend, consistent with its position as a mature, cash-generating healthcare business. The dividend reflects management's confidence in recurring revenue from consumables and service contracts. Investors seeking income alongside defensive healthcare exposure may find the dividend cadence appealing, though the full yield context is available in the Pro member view.
When does STE report earnings?
STERIS reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed large-cap equities.
The company's mix of recurring consumable sales and multi-year service agreements tends to provide revenue visibility from quarter to quarter. Segment performance across Healthcare and Applied Sterilization Technologies is a key focus for investors tracking the business.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit STERIS's investor relations page directly.
STE Price History
+20.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in STERIS plc?
Based on STERIS plc's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
STE Long-term Outlook
STERIS's Growth pillar sits at Neutral, suggesting a steady rather than accelerating expansion trajectory. The Risk pillar's Good rating points to a business model that is relatively insulated from sharp cyclical swings, supported by non-discretionary demand for infection prevention in healthcare settings. The Good Valuation label indicates the stock is not priced for perfection, which may provide a degree of downside cushion if growth remains moderate.
Growth drivers
- Expanding global demand for hospital sterilization and infection prevention
- Recurring consumable and service contract revenue providing baseline growth
- Growth in outsourced contract sterilization for medical device manufacturers
Key risks
- Neutral Moat rating suggests limited pricing power relative to stronger-moat peers
- Capital equipment spending by hospitals can slow during budget-constrained periods
- Integration complexity from acquisitions could weigh on Quality pillar improvement
STE vs Peers
STERIS operates in a competitive healthcare landscape alongside companies with distinct business models and end-market exposures.
DexCom focuses on continuous glucose monitoring technology, serving a diabetes management niche rather than the broad infection prevention and sterilization market where STERIS competes.
Zimmer Biomet concentrates on orthopedic implants and reconstructive devices, making it a surgical partner to hospitals but with a fundamentally different product and revenue mix than STERIS.
Philips competes in hospital equipment and connected care technology at a much larger scale, with a broader global footprint and a stronger emphasis on diagnostic imaging compared to STERIS's sterilization focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does STERIS do?
STERIS provides infection prevention, sterilization, and procedural products and services to hospitals, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and dental practices. Its four business segments cover everything from sterile processing equipment and surgical room solutions to contract sterilization laboratory services and consumable cleaning chemistries.
Does STE pay dividends?
Yes, STERIS pays a regular dividend. The company's recurring revenue base — driven by consumables and long-term service contracts — supports consistent dividend payments. For current yield and payout details, Pro members can access the full financial metrics on uqs-score.com.
When does STE report earnings?
STERIS reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, in line with standard practice for US-listed large-cap companies. For the exact schedule and most recent results, check the investor relations section of the STERIS corporate website.
Is STE a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates STE as Good overall. The Risk and Valuation pillars are relative strengths, while Quality, Moat, and Growth are Neutral. Whether that profile fits your portfolio depends on your own investment criteria. The complete pillar breakdown is available to Pro members on uqs-score.com.
Is STE overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for STE is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at an extreme premium relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation is one of five pillars — the full picture requires reviewing the complete UQS analysis available to Pro members.
How does STE compare to its competitors?
STERIS is differentiated by its focus on infection prevention and contract sterilization services, which creates a more recurring, non-discretionary revenue profile than peers like Zimmer Biomet (orthopedic implants) or DexCom (glucose monitoring). Philips competes in hospital equipment but at a broader scale and with a different product emphasis.
What is STE's market cap bracket?
STERIS is classified as a large-cap stock. This places it among the more established, widely followed companies in the healthcare sector, typically associated with greater liquidity and analyst coverage than mid- or small-cap peers.
Who founded STERIS?
STERIS was founded in 1992. Detailed founding history, including key individuals involved in the company's establishment, is widely available through public corporate records and the STERIS investor relations website.
Is STE a long-term quality indicator?
As a long-term quality indicator, STERIS's UQS profile shows a stable, risk-managed business with Good scores in Risk and Valuation. The Neutral ratings across Quality, Moat, and Growth suggest the company is dependable rather than exceptional — a distinction that matters for long-horizon investors evaluating compounding potential.
What is the main competitive advantage of STERIS?
STERIS benefits from deep integration into hospital sterile processing workflows and a large installed base of capital equipment that drives recurring consumable and service revenue. Switching costs in sterile processing environments tend to be meaningful, though the UQS Moat pillar currently rates this advantage as Neutral relative to sector peers.
What sector does STE belong to?
STERIS operates in the Healthcare sector, specifically within the medical devices and services space. Its focus on infection prevention and sterilization makes it a defensive-leaning healthcare name, as demand for its products is largely non-discretionary across hospital and pharmaceutical settings.
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Pro Analysis
STE — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 56.3 | 53.9 | 49.0 | 49.7 | 73.9 | 63.9 | 0.0 |
| May 21, 2026 | 56.3 | 53.9 | 49.0 | 49.7 | 73.9 | 64.0 | -0.2 |
| May 16, 2026 | 56.5 | 54.1 | 49.0 | 49.7 | 73.9 | 64.7 | -2.8 |
| May 14, 2026 | 59.3 | 54.1 | 49.0 | 49.1 | 91.4 | 66.8 | -0.2 |
| May 12, 2026 | 59.5 | 54.6 | 49.0 | 48.7 | 91.4 | 67.5 | +1.7 |
| May 7, 2026 | 57.8 | 50.4 | 49.0 | 57.6 | 76.8 | 65.8 | -0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 57.9 | 50.4 | 49.0 | 57.6 | 76.8 | 66.5 | +0.2 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 57.7 | 50.4 | 49.0 | 57.6 | 76.8 | 65.6 | +0.4 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 57.3 | 50.4 | 49.0 | 57.6 | 76.8 | 62.5 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 57.4 | 50.4 | 49.0 | 57.6 | 76.8 | 63.1 | -1.0 |
STE — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 53.9/100 (25%)STERIS plc has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 49.7/100 (20%)STERIS plc shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 73.9/100 (15%)STERIS plc maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 63.9/100 (15%)STERIS plc trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 49/100 (25%)STERIS plc possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for STE.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the STE UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for STERIS plc is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses STERIS plc's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether STERIS plc is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.