Driehaus Capital Management LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Driehaus Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 34.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 192,598 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 49,865 shares during the period. Driehaus Capital Management LLC owned 0.65% of Badger Meter worth $40,854,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position 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 purchasing an additional 91 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 2,457.1% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares during the period. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Badger Meter

In other Badger Meter news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 148 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.13, for a total transaction of $31,395.24. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 1,165 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.13, for a total value of $247,131.45. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 52,620 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,162,280.60. The trade was a 2.17% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 20,949 shares of company stock worth $4,398,407. 0.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BMI traded up $10.09 on Tuesday, hitting $245.54. 387,881 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 203,646. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1-year low of $162.17 and a 1-year high of $246.69. The company has a market capitalization of $7.23 billion, a PE ratio of 58.05, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83. The firm's 50-day moving average is $201.15 and its 200 day moving average is $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 the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.22. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. The business had revenue of $222.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $220.39 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.99 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

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 given a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.55%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio is presently 29.96%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Argus set a $240.00 target price on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered 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. Robert W. Baird reduced 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. Maxim Group upped their price objective on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $229.80.

Badger Meter 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.