Squarepoint Ops LLC Raises Stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. $ESE

Key Points

• Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its ESCO Technologies stake by 178.2% in the second quarter, bringing its holdings to 10,643 shares valued at approximately $3.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 95.7% of the company.
• ESCO Technologies exceeded quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $2.20 in EPS versus the $2.12 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 14.4% year over year to $339.03 million. The company guided to fiscal 2026 EPS of $8.30–$8.40.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with the stock carrying a consensus “Buy” rating and a $416.50 price target. ESCO also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, equivalent to a 0.1% yield.

Squarepoint Ops LLC grew its stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE - Free Report) by 178.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,643 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after acquiring an additional 6,817 shares during the quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC's holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $3,725,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 842.9% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 132 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP acquired a new stake in ESCO Technologies during the second quarter worth about $36,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in ESCO Technologies during the first quarter worth about $38,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in ESCO Technologies during the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Osterweis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in ESCO Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of ESE stock opened at $270.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.38. The firm has a market cap of $7.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $303.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $302.49. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a one year low of $193.68 and a one year high of $362.15.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.12 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $339.03 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $341.40 million. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 24.39% and a return on equity of 13.28%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.60 EPS. ESCO Technologies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.300-8.400 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance at 2.550-2.650 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 8.35 EPS for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 1st. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.1%. ESCO Technologies's payout ratio is presently 2.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on ESE shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $413.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Weiss Ratings upgraded ESCO Technologies from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b+)" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on ESCO Technologies in a report on Monday, June 15th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $420.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ESCO Technologies currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $416.50.

ESCO Technologies Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc is a St. Louis, Missouri-based provider of engineered products and services for the aerospace, defense, utility, healthcare, telecommunications and industrial markets. The company develops specialized technologies used in testing, measurement, filtration, fluid control and power-delivery applications.

Through its Aerospace & Defense segment, ESCO supplies filtration systems, fluid-control equipment, valves, electromechanical products and other components for commercial and military aircraft, spacecraft and defense platforms.

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