Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $181.8750.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays set a $136.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $191.00 price objective (down from $229.00) on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $167.00 price objective on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut 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 note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Argus cut Badger Meter from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Badger Meter news, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst acquired 3,300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $152.42 per share, for a total transaction of $502,986.00. Following 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 purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Kimberly K. Stoll sold 1,634 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.01, for a total value of $243,482.34. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 3,256 shares in the company, valued at approximately $485,176.56. This trade represents a 33.42% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 3,989 shares of company stock valued at $596,002 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMI. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC increased its stake in Badger Meter by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 1,296 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $317,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 27.3% during the 3rd quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 266 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 76.5% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 150 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 15.5% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 521 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 62.3% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 185 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Badger Meter Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of BMI opened at $146.55 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $158.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $172.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.87. Badger Meter has a 1-year low of $139.14 and a 1-year high of $256.08.

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

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

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

Badger Meter Company 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.