ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Reaches New 12-Month High - Should You Buy?

ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $197.65 and last traded at $196.49, with a volume of 8498 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $194.80.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently issued reports on ESE. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of ESCO Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 0.5%

The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock's 50-day moving average is $185.23 and its 200-day moving average is $162.23. The company has a market cap of $5.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.94 and a beta of 1.21.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.10. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 11.01% and a return on equity of 10.56%. The firm had revenue of $265.52 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $264.96 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.09 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 2nd. ESCO Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.02%.

Institutional Trading of ESCO Technologies

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pitcairn Co. raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Pitcairn Co. now owns 3,479 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $463,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.0% in the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 8,221 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,308,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its stake in ESCO Technologies by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 2,919 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $389,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in ESCO Technologies by 4.8% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 2,047 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $326,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC grew its stake in ESCO Technologies by 32.2% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 402 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

ESCO Technologies Company Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.

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