Consolidated Planning Corp Takes Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Consolidated Planning Corp bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 6,355 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $1,209,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of BMI. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at $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 buying an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in 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 valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Badger Meter in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Global X Japan Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Badger Meter during the 1st quarter valued at $45,000. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Badger Meter Price Performance

NYSE BMI traded up $4.78 during trading on Thursday, hitting $247.17. The company's stock had a trading volume of 212,369 shares, compared to its average volume of 212,039. Badger Meter, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $162.17 and a fifty-two week high of $256.08. The company has a market cap of $7.28 billion, a PE ratio of 54.44, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.85. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $236.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $217.49.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $222.21 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $220.39 million. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.74% and a return on equity of 22.35%. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.99 EPS. Analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on BMI. Raymond James Financial began coverage on Badger Meter in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. They issued a "market perform" rating for the company. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $200.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, June 16th. Argus set a $240.00 target price on Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target 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.