Jones Financial Companies Lllp Purchases 4,151 Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI

Key Points

• Jones Financial Companies Lllp significantly increased its stake in Badger Meter, Inc., acquiring an additional 4,151 shares, resulting in a total holding of 6,372 shares valued at approximately $1,212,000.
• Badger Meter announced a dividend increase to $0.40 per share, representing an annualized dividend of $1.60 and a yield of 0.9%, with a payout ratio of 34.86%.
• Despite a revenue beat of 9.9% year-over-year, Badger Meter reported an earnings per share of $1.17, which fell short of analyst expectations of $1.19.

Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 186.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,372 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 4,151 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp's holdings in Badger Meter were worth $1,212,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth $227,000. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its position in Badger Meter by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,575 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $546,000 after buying an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its position in Badger Meter by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 32,827 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $6,964,000 after buying an additional 2,642 shares in the last quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP increased its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 42.2% during the 4th quarter. Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP now owns 2,145 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $455,000 after purchasing an additional 637 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Numerai GP LLC increased its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 91.2% during the 4th quarter. Numerai GP LLC now owns 1,933 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $410,000 after purchasing an additional 922 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Badger Meter stock traded up $5.82 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $178.49. 628,846 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 344,897. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52-week low of $162.17 and a 52-week high of $256.08. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $193.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $211.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.89, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.87.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 analysts' expectations of $235.38 million. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.53% and a return on equity of 21.57%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.12 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, August 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 22nd. This is a positive change from Badger Meter's previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio is 34.86%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BMI has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $230.00 price target for the company. Raymond James Financial began coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. They issued a "market perform" rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus set a $224.00 price objective on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective 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. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $237.00.

About Badger Meter

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.