258,243 Shares in Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI Bought by American Capital Management Inc.

Key Points

• American Capital Management purchased 258,243 Badger Meter shares worth approximately $38.3 million, giving it a 0.89% stake and making BMI 1.7% of its portfolio. Institutional investors collectively own 89.01% of the company.
• Badger Meter slightly exceeded quarterly earnings expectations with EPS of $1.02 versus $1.01, although revenue declined 6.6% year over year to $220.3 million. The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.44, implying a 1.3% annualized yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: BMI carries a consensus “Hold” rating with a $164 average price target, compared with shares opening at $136.91.

American Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 258,243 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $38,318,000. Badger Meter accounts for 1.7% of American Capital Management Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 25th largest position. American Capital Management Inc. owned approximately 0.89% of Badger Meter at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Man Group plc bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at about $899,000. Jupiter Topco LLC acquired a new position in Badger Meter in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,908,000. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in Badger Meter in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,346,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,298,000. Finally, Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $716,000. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Badger Meter news, VP Edward F. Callahan purchased 751 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 30th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $135.25 per share, with a total value of $101,572.75. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 1,937 shares in the company, valued at $261,979.25. The trade was a 63.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of BMI opened at $136.91 on Thursday. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12-month low of $112.09 and a 12-month high of $204.00. The business's fifty day moving average is $137.58 and its 200 day moving average is $138.85. The stock has a market cap of $3.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.65.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $220.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $220.59 million. Badger Meter had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 18.03%. Badger Meter's quarterly revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.17 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.5 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 11th. Investors of record on Friday, August 28th will be issued a $0.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 28th. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from Badger Meter's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.38%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on BMI shares. Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating and issued a $112.00 price objective (up from $109.00) on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Seaport Research Partners set a $160.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird set a $167.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $169.00 to $162.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Badger Meter from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $164.00.

Badger Meter Profile

Badger Meter, founded in 1905 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader in flow measurement and control solutions. The company's core business centers on the design, manufacture and sale of water meters, control valves and related accessories for municipal and industrial water utilities. Over its more than a century of operation, Badger Meter has built a reputation for precision engineering, durability and compliance with international regulatory standards.

The company's product portfolio includes mechanical and ultrasonic water meters, electromagnetic flow meters for industrial applications, and a range of control valves that help utilities manage pressure and flow in distribution networks.

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