Jump Financial LLC Sells 4,801 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Jump Financial LLC decreased its holdings in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE - Free Report) by 52.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,330 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 4,801 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC's holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $577,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ESE. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 340.9% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 44,413 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $5,728,000 after acquiring an additional 34,340 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 20,917 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,608,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 21.7% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 571 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the period. Heritage Family Offices LLP lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,958 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $261,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 67.5% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,169 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $156,000 after acquiring an additional 471 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

ESCO Technologies Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE ESE traded up $1.54 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $156.68. The stock had a trading volume of 13,355 shares, compared to its average volume of 128,220. The firm has a market cap of $4.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.89 and a beta of 1.07. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 1 year low of $101.32 and a 1 year high of $171.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 2.04. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $156.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $144.91.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 2nd were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.20%. ESCO Technologies's dividend payout ratio is presently 7.51%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on ESE. StockNews.com cut shares of ESCO Technologies from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Stephens reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $175.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th.

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.