Informed Momentum Co LLC Takes Position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Key Points

• Informed Momentum Co LLC has invested approximately $4.41 million in ESCO Technologies Inc., acquiring 27,697 shares, which constitutes about 0.8% of its portfolio.
• Despite reporting a miss in EPS estimates for the last quarter, ESCO Technologies saw a 13.6% year-over-year revenue increase.
• Several analysts have recently adjusted their ratings for ESCO Technologies, with Benchmark raising the price target to $200.00, while Wall Street Zen downgraded its rating from "buy" to "hold."

Informed Momentum Co LLC purchased a new position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund purchased 27,697 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $4,407,000. ESCO Technologies comprises about 0.8% of Informed Momentum Co LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Informed Momentum Co LLC owned 0.11% of ESCO Technologies as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. CX Institutional purchased a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $38,000. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 32.2% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 402 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 627.1% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 429 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Benchmark lifted their price target on ESCO Technologies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Wall Street Zen downgraded ESCO Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE ESE traded down $3.70 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $184.47. The company's stock had a trading volume of 229,889 shares, compared to its average volume of 180,943. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $113.30 and a 12 month high of $201.72. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $190.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $171.28. The company has a market cap of $4.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.55 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.04.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.65 by ($0.05). ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.37% and a return on equity of 11.19%. The business had revenue of $296.34 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $320.23 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.16 EPS. ESCO Technologies's revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

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

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.