Jump Financial LLC Buys Shares of 16,233 Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 16,233 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $2,506,000. Jump Financial LLC owned about 0.06% of Badger Meter at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Planned Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its holdings in Badger Meter by 8,666.7% during the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 526 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $81,000 after buying an additional 520 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC boosted its position in Badger Meter by 2,392.9% during the 4th quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 698 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $108,000 after buying an additional 670 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on BMI shares. Northcoast Research raised Badger Meter from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $151.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, April 19th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $147.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 19th. StockNews.com upgraded Badger Meter from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. Finally, Maxim Group lifted their price target on Badger Meter from $190.00 to $207.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $164.80.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Fred J. Begale sold 1,203 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.92, for a total transaction of $195,992.76. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 2,181 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $355,328.52. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 194 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.55, for a total transaction of $30,952.70. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 13,672 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,181,367.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Fred J. Begale sold 1,203 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.92, for a total value of $195,992.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $355,328.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 2,813 shares of company stock valued at $448,167. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:BMI traded down $2.18 on Monday, hitting $194.20. 188,386 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 192,194. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $167.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $156.08. The company has a market cap of $5.71 billion, a PE ratio of 56.59, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.82. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $134.06 and a 52 week high of $199.40.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 18th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.17. Badger Meter had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 20.26%. The business had revenue of $196.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $182.25 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.66 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 3.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.56%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio is 31.12%.

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.