EntryPoint Capital LLC Has $680,000 Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI

Key Points

• EntryPoint Capital LLC increased its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. by 272.3%, acquiring an additional 2,614 shares, bringing its total holdings to 3,574 shares valued at approximately $680,000.
• Badger Meter reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS), falling short of analysts' estimates of $1.19, while its quarterly revenue increased by 9.9% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend increase from $0.34 to $0.40 per share, with payment scheduled for September 5th, reflecting a dividend yield of 0.9%.

EntryPoint Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 272.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 3,574 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,614 shares during the period. Badger Meter accounts for about 0.3% of EntryPoint Capital LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. EntryPoint Capital LLC's holdings in Badger Meter were worth $680,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 83.0% during the first quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 194 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Olde Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Badger Meter in the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. 89.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on BMI shares. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $284.00 to $264.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. They set a "market perform" rating for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $224.00 target price on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $238.40.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Shares of BMI traded down $2.0150 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $187.2750. The stock had a trading volume of 68,606 shares, compared to its average volume of 275,767. The firm has a market cap of $5.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $216.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $215.89. Badger Meter, Inc. has a twelve month low of $162.17 and a twelve month high of $256.08.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.02). Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.57% and a net margin of 15.53%.The firm had revenue of $238.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $235.38 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.12 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 22nd will be given a $0.40 dividend. This is a boost from Badger Meter's previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 22nd. Badger Meter's payout ratio is presently 34.86%.

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.