Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Sells 4,838 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Key Points

• Jefferies Financial Group Inc. reduced its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 22.1%, leaving it with a position worth approximately $3.91 million.
• Several institutional investors recently adjusted their holdings in BDX, with a total of 86.97% of the stock being owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
• Becton, Dickinson and Company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.04 per share, representing a 2.4% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 79.39%.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 22.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,046 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 4,838 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $3,905,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 98.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,770 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $401,000 after acquiring an additional 877 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 50.6% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 82,110 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $18,808,000 after buying an additional 27,581 shares during the last quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 1st quarter worth $6,406,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 29.9% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,250 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $744,000 after buying an additional 748 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 1st quarter worth $224,000. 86.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,185 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.29, for a total transaction of $213,643.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,887 shares in the company, valued at $881,077.23. The trade was a 19.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP David Shan sold 1,166 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total value of $199,607.54. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,575 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $783,194.25. The trade was a 20.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.36% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of BDX traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $178.79. The stock had a trading volume of 103,264 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,623,653. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 52 week low of $163.33 and a 52 week high of $251.99. The firm has a market cap of $51.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.15, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.20. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $175.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $199.99.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Company's payout ratio is presently 79.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $280.00 to $196.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. William Blair downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Citigroup downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $217.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Piper Sandler downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $260.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $212.88.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.