Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) Shares Acquired by Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ

Key Points

• Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB increased its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. by 10.8%, owning 26,055 shares valued at approximately $4.96 million after acquiring an additional 2,532 shares in Q1.
• Several institutional investors, including Pacer Advisors Inc. and Royce & Associates LP, have also significantly boosted their stakes in Badger Meter during the first quarter of the year.
• Badger Meter's stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" with a consensus price target of $238.40, following recent analyst reports indicating varied price targets from $219.00 to $264.00.

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lifted its stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 10.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 26,055 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 2,532 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ owned 0.09% of Badger Meter worth $4,957,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in Badger Meter by 162.5% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 147 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Badger Meter by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Badger Meter by 83.0% during the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 194 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BMI has been the topic of several analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Badger Meter from $284.00 to $264.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Argus set a $240.00 target price on Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $224.00 target price on Badger Meter in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Finally, Raymond James Financial began coverage on Badger Meter in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. They issued a "market perform" rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $238.40.

Badger Meter Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of BMI traded up $0.79 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $192.09. The stock had a trading volume of 136,599 shares, compared to its average volume of 272,487. Badger Meter, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $162.17 and a fifty-two week high of $256.08. The company has a market cap of $5.66 billion, a PE ratio of 41.94, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.83. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $237.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $218.88.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.02). Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.53% and a return on equity of 21.57%. The company had revenue of $238.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $235.38 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.12 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current year.

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.