EntryPoint Capital LLC Acquires 2,614 Shares of 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 increased its position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 272.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,574 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 2,614 shares during the period. Badger Meter comprises approximately 0.3% of EntryPoint Capital LLC's holdings, making the stock its 26th largest position. EntryPoint Capital LLC's holdings in Badger Meter were worth $680,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Values First Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. now owns 8,739 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,663,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Choreo LLC boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,361 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,018 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $194,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Cim LLC boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Cim LLC now owns 9,747 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,068,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,221 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Trading Up 3.4%

Shares of NYSE:BMI traded up $6.2850 during trading on Friday, reaching $189.7350. The company's stock had a trading volume of 297,529 shares, compared to its average volume of 387,758. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12 month low of $162.17 and a 12 month high of $256.08. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $216.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $215.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.59 billion, a PE ratio of 41.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.84.

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

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, August 22nd will be issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 22nd. This is a positive change from Badger Meter's previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. Badger Meter's payout ratio is 29.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $284.00 to $264.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $216.00 to $219.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Raymond James Financial assumed 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 price objective on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $238.40.

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.