Robert W. Baird Has Lowered Expectations for Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) Stock Price

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) had its target price cut by stock analysts at Robert W. Baird from $218.00 to $216.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a "neutral" rating on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. Robert W. Baird's price objective suggests a potential downside of 0.16% from the stock's previous close.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on BMI. Maxim Group lifted their price target on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $251.00 target price for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $209.00 to $196.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $229.80.

Badger Meter Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of BMI traded down $1.13 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $216.35. 152,757 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 203,152. The business's 50-day moving average price is $197.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $209.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.15, a PEG ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.84. Badger Meter has a 1 year low of $162.17 and a 1 year high of $239.11.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $222.21 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $220.39 million. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.99 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Badger Meter will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Badger Meter

In other Badger Meter news, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $240,571.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,076 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,064,640.24. This trade represents a 18.43 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 16,073 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $3,371,151.02. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 34,961 shares in the company, valued at $7,332,720.14. The trade was a 31.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 20,949 shares of company stock worth $4,398,407. Insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Evergreen Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Badger Meter by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 2,780 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $590,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Badger Meter by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,204 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $1,316,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors boosted its position in shares of Badger Meter by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 1,271 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 8,536 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $1,811,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cim LLC grew its position in Badger Meter by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Cim LLC now owns 9,747 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $2,068,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Company Profile

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.