Driehaus Capital Management LLC Takes $33.78 Million Position in ESCO Technologies Inc. $ESE

Key Points

• Driehaus Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. by purchasing 212,316 shares valued at approximately $33.8 million, which represents 0.82% of the company as of their latest filing.
• ESCO Technologies reported a quarterly EPS of $1.60, missing estimates by $0.05, with revenues of $296.34 million, below the expected $320.23 million, though showing a year-over-year revenue growth of 13.6%.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, to be paid on October 16th, reflecting a 0.2% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 7.21%.

Driehaus Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 212,316 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $33,784,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.82% of ESCO Technologies at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 315,479 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $50,199,000 after acquiring an additional 9,402 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 4.8% in the 1st 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 buying an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 11,617 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,848,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 18.0% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 674 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $107,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CX Institutional acquired a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of ESCO Technologies stock traded up $0.36 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $201.27. 477,798 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 173,957. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market cap of $5.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.33 and a beta of 1.25. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 52 week low of $113.30 and a 52 week high of $205.31. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $192.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $175.35.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.65 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $296.34 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $320.23 million. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.37% and a return on equity of 11.19%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.16 EPS. ESCO Technologies has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.750-5.900 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 2.040-2.190 EPS. Research analysts forecast that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 2nd. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. ESCO Technologies's payout ratio is 7.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen lowered ESCO Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on ESCO Technologies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $187.50.

About ESCO Technologies

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.