Trust Point Inc. Sells 2,164 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Trust Point Inc. decreased its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE - Free Report) by 45.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,594 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 2,164 shares during the period. Trust Point Inc.'s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $413,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of ESE. Valmark Advisers Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 6,779 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $903,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 125,266 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $16,687,000 after purchasing an additional 3,562 shares in the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 14,091 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,877,000 after purchasing an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Illumine Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $605,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 378.8% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 565 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

ESCO Technologies Trading Down 0.5%

NYSE:ESE opened at $183.00 on Tuesday. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a one year low of $101.42 and a one year high of $187.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.35. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $169.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $154.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.96 and a beta of 1.22.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $265.52 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $264.96 million. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 9.91%. ESCO Technologies's quarterly revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.09 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 2nd will be issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.17%. ESCO Technologies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.02%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark lifted their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of ESCO Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $175.00 price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.

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