Baird Financial Group Inc. Has $23.76 Million Stock Holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Key Points

• Baird Financial Group Inc. has increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 15.9%, now owning 103,729 shares valued at approximately $23.76 million.
• Becton, Dickinson and Company reported a 10.4% year-over-year revenue growth of $5.51 billion, surpassing analysts' estimates during its latest earnings release.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.04 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend yield of 2.2%.

Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 15.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 103,729 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after buying an additional 14,266 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $23,760,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BDX. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 98.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,770 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $401,000 after buying an additional 877 shares in the last quarter. Hara Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 26.4% in the 4th quarter. Hara Capital LLC now owns 335 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter worth $3,317,000. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 273.6% in the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 13,724 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $3,114,000 after buying an additional 10,051 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments bought a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter worth $12,459,000. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 863 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $192.30, for a total value of $165,954.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 23,143 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,450,398.90. This trade represents a 3.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,185 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.29, for a total value of $213,643.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,887 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $881,077.23. This trade represents a 19.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BDX has been the subject of several research reports. Piper Sandler reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $200.00 price objective (up from $185.00) on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the company from $217.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $261.00 to $241.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $196.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $211.44.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

BDX stock traded up $0.92 on Friday, reaching $192.18. 1,244,193 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,050,719. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12 month low of $163.33 and a 12 month high of $251.99. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $185.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $193.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.08 billion, a PE ratio of 34.56, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.40 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $5.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.50 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.51% and a return on equity of 16.23%. Becton, Dickinson and Company's revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.50 earnings per share. Becton, Dickinson and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 14.300-14.450 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 8th will be given a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Company's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 74.82%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.