Swiss National Bank Sells 6,700 Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Swiss National Bank lowered its stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 10.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 57,800 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 6,700 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned about 0.20% of Badger Meter worth $8,923,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tower View Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Badger Meter by 58.3% in the 4th quarter. Tower View Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,851 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $2,293,000 after buying an additional 5,471 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 9.2% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 1,589 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $245,000 after buying an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Badger Meter by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 249,363 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,494,000 after buying an additional 15,703 shares during the last quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP boosted its stake in Badger Meter by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 5,872 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $906,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in Badger Meter by 16.5% in the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 15,244 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $2,353,000 after buying an additional 2,160 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Badger Meter

In related news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 1,416 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.23, for a total transaction of $221,221.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 13,422 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,096,919.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Badger Meter news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 194 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.55, for a total transaction of $30,952.70. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 13,672 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,181,367.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 1,416 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.23, for a total transaction of $221,221.68. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 13,422 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,096,919.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 2,813 shares of company stock worth $448,167. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BMI traded up $0.02 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $194.22. 186,146 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 192,130. Badger Meter, Inc. has a twelve month low of $134.06 and a twelve month high of $199.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.97, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.82. The business's fifty day moving average price is $168.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $156.88.

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

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 24th will be issued 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 payout ratio is 31.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

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.