Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI Shares Purchased by Quantbot Technologies LP

Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 258.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 29,393 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after acquiring an additional 21,185 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP owned about 0.10% of Badger Meter worth $5,249,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Caitlin John LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the third quarter worth about $31,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $49,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the second quarter worth approximately $54,000. Finally, MAI Capital Management lifted its stake in Badger Meter by 57.6% in the second quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 260 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Stock Down 2.5%

Shares of Badger Meter stock opened at $152.33 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $4.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.90. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52-week low of $139.14 and a 52-week high of $256.08. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $164.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $175.10.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.15 by ($0.01). Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.45% and a return on equity of 20.71%. The business had revenue of $220.71 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $232.30 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.04 EPS. Badger Meter’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Badger Meter news, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst acquired 3,300 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $152.42 per share, for a total transaction of $502,986.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 40,013 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,098,781.46. The trade was a 8.99% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Robert Wrocklage purchased 1,650 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The shares were bought at an average price of $152.35 per share, with a total value of $251,377.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 19,541 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,977,071.35. This trade represents a 9.22% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $232.00 to $190.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Robert W. Baird set a $165.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $220.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $191.00 target price (down from $229.00) on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $167.00 target price on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $181.88.

Badger Meter Profile

Badger Meter, founded in 1905 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader in flow measurement and control solutions. The company’s core business centers on the design, manufacture and sale of water meters, control valves and related accessories for municipal and industrial water utilities. Over its more than a century of operation, Badger Meter has built a reputation for precision engineering, durability and compliance with international regulatory standards.

The company’s product portfolio includes mechanical and ultrasonic water meters, electromagnetic flow meters for industrial applications, and a range of control valves that help utilities manage pressure and flow in distribution networks.