Baird Financial Group Inc. Boosts Stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 27.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 29,414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,343 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned 0.10% of Badger Meter worth $6,239,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BMI. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in Badger Meter by 162.5% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 147 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 2,457.1% during the fourth 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 period. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Badger Meter

In other news, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total transaction of $240,571.78. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 5,076 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,064,640.24. The trade was a 18.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 1,165 shares of Badger Meter 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 $247,131.45. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 52,620 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,162,280.60. This represents a 2.17% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 20,949 shares of company stock worth $4,398,407 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Price Performance

BMI traded down $2.45 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $245.01. 119,854 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 205,198. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $162.17 and a 52 week high of $249.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $201.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $210.72.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 previous year, the firm earned $0.99 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast 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 will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given 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 0.56%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on BMI shares. Maxim Group boosted their price objective on 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 boosted their target price on Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Argus set a $240.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Badger Meter from $209.00 to $196.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.