AQR Capital Management LLC Grows Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 25.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 43,984 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 8,909 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC owned 0.15% of Badger Meter worth $9,330,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Badger Meter by 348.5% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 55,090 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $12,034,000 after purchasing an additional 42,806 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in Badger Meter by 14.2% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 18,317 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $4,126,000 after purchasing an additional 2,276 shares in the last quarter. Norway Savings Bank lifted its stake in Badger Meter by 145.8% during the fourth quarter. Norway Savings Bank now owns 2,458 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $521,000 after purchasing an additional 1,458 shares during the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter in the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 63,406 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $13,450,000 after buying an additional 4,328 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Badger Meter

In related news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 148 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.13, for a total transaction of $31,395.24. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 14,051 shares in the company, valued at $2,980,638.63. This represents a 1.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 1,165 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.13, for a total transaction of $247,131.45. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 52,620 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,162,280.60. This trade represents a 2.17% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 20,949 shares of company stock worth $4,398,407. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of Badger Meter stock traded up $2.52 during trading on Monday, hitting $233.40. The company's stock had a trading volume of 19,542 shares, compared to its average volume of 202,183. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $162.17 and a 52 week high of $242.43. The company has a market capitalization of $6.87 billion, a PE ratio of 55.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $200.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $210.49.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $222.21 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $220.39 million. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.99 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.58%. Badger Meter's payout ratio is 29.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Argus set a $240.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Maxim Group increased their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Badger Meter from $209.00 to $196.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $229.80.

Badger Meter Company Profile

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.