Erste Asset Management GmbH Lowers Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI

Key Points

• Erste Asset Management GmbH reduced its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. by 4.3% in Q1, now holding 30,589 shares worth approximately $5.83 million.
• Badger Meter has recently increased its quarterly dividend from $0.34 to $0.40 per share, with a 0.9% yield and a payout ratio of 34.86%.
• The company's recent earnings report showed an EPS of $1.17, missing estimates but reporting a 9.9% revenue increase year-over-year.

Erste Asset Management GmbH trimmed its position in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 4.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 30,589 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 1,381 shares during the quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH owned about 0.10% of Badger Meter worth $5,833,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 83.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter in the first quarter valued at $37,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Olde Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the first quarter worth $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Shares of BMI stock traded up $1.22 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $186.29. 78,663 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 275,577. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.61, a P/E/G ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.84. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12-month low of $162.17 and a 12-month high of $256.08. The business's fifty day moving average is $215.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $215.69.

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

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

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