Mirova Grows Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Mirova increased its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 39.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,353 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,137 shares during the period. Badger Meter accounts for about 0.9% of Mirova's portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Mirova owned about 0.09% of Badger Meter worth $5,378,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in Badger Meter by 162.5% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 147 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 2,457.1% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth $39,000. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Badger Meter Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of BMI stock traded down $1.99 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $215.49. 70,686 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 203,013. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52-week low of $162.17 and a 52-week high of $239.11. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $197.91 and a 200 day moving average of $209.88. The company has a market cap of $6.34 billion, a PE ratio of 51.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.84.

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

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.63%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.96%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 16,073 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $3,371,151.02. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 34,961 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,332,720.14. The trade was a 31.49 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $240,571.78. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,076 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,064,640.24. The trade was a 18.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 20,949 shares of company stock valued at $4,398,407. 0.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective 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. Argus set a $240.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a report on Thursday. Maxim Group raised their target price on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $229.80.

About Badger Meter

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.