Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $74.47 Million Stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 1.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 325,092 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 3,622 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.11% of Becton, Dickinson and Company worth $74,466,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of BDX. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 98.2% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,770 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $401,000 after purchasing an additional 877 shares during the last quarter. Hara Capital LLC raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 26.4% during the fourth quarter. Hara Capital LLC now owns 335 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the fourth quarter worth about $21,607,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the fourth quarter worth about $181,279,000. Finally, Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 128.1% during the fourth quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 4,752 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $1,078,000 after acquiring an additional 2,669 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP David Shan sold 1,166 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total transaction of $199,607.54. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,575 shares in the company, valued at approximately $783,194.25. This trade represents a 20.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 479 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.28, for a total transaction of $94,497.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 4,887 shares of the company's stock, valued at $964,107.36. The trade was a 8.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.36% of the company's stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BDX traded down $3.24 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $172.92. 2,499,589 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,065,561. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $163.33 and a fifty-two week high of $251.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market cap of $49.56 billion, a PE ratio of 33.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.25. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $173.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $207.57.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $5.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.35 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.28% and a return on equity of 15.99%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.17 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 9th were issued a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 9th. Becton, Dickinson and Company's payout ratio is 79.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $280.00 to $224.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Bank of America lowered shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $190.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $260.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $219.22.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile

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.