Praxis Investment Management Inc. Has $428,000 Stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Praxis Investment Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 50.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,250 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 2,270 shares during the quarter. Praxis Investment Management Inc.'s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $428,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings 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 last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its stake in Badger Meter by 2,457.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Global X Japan Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Badger Meter in the first quarter worth about $45,000. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of BMI stock traded up $0.84 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $247.43. 187,394 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 211,718. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.50, a PEG ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.85. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $162.17 and a 52 week high of $256.08. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $234.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $217.19.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 22.35% and a net margin of 15.74%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.99 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were given a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 23rd. Badger Meter's payout ratio is 29.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BMI has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Badger Meter from $200.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, June 16th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Raymond James Financial began coverage on Badger Meter in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. They issued a "market perform" rating for the company. Finally, Argus set a $240.00 price target on Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $236.60.

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.