Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC Boosts Stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 128.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 4,471 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,516 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC's holdings in Badger Meter were worth $851,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in Badger Meter in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 162.5% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 147 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 100.0% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the period. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Global X Japan Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Trading Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:BMI traded up $2.29 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $242.62. 145,014 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 213,096. The stock has a market cap of $7.15 billion, a PE ratio of 53.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.83. The business's fifty day moving average is $241.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $217.98. Badger Meter, Inc. has a one year low of $162.17 and a one year high of $256.08.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.22. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.74% and a return on equity of 22.35%. The business had revenue of $222.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $220.39 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.99 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. Badger Meter's payout ratio is 29.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. They set a "market perform" rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Badger Meter from $200.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, June 16th. Finally, Argus set a $240.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $236.60.

Badger Meter 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.