ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Hits New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $230.00 and last traded at $229.6250, with a volume of 113660 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $223.06.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on ESE shares. CJS Securities upgraded ESCO Technologies to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings upgraded ESCO Technologies from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Zacks Research raised shares of ESCO Technologies to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ESCO Technologies currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $187.50.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $208.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $206.82. The company has a market cap of $5.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.79 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 0.93.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.19. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 25.76% and a return on equity of 12.21%. The firm had revenue of $286.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $306.39 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. ESCO Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.250-1.350 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.500-7.800 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 2.77%.

Insider Transactions at ESCO Technologies

In related news, Director Robert J. Phillippy sold 3,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.53, for a total transaction of $823,361.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 6,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,450,673.07. This trade represents a 36.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Bryan H. Sayler sold 401 shares of ESCO Technologies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.00, for a total transaction of $88,220.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 20,254 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,455,880. The trade was a 1.94% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 21,699 shares of company stock valued at $4,778,734 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 345.8% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 707,244 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $135,699,000 after acquiring an additional 548,600 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at $93,728,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 1,204.3% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 432,050 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $91,210,000 after purchasing an additional 398,926 shares during the period. Tributary Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 92.5% during the third quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 311,910 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $65,847,000 after purchasing an additional 149,918 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hood River Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 60.1% in the second quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC now owns 303,651 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $58,262,000 after buying an additional 113,940 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About ESCO Technologies

ESCO Technologies Inc is a diversified manufacturer of engineered products and systems designed to meet customers’ critical performance requirements in the test, measurement, control, and filtration of data, fluids, and gases. The company serves a wide range of end markets, including commercial aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and communication network sectors. ESCO’s solutions are tailored to environments where reliability, precision and regulatory compliance are paramount.

Operating through multiple business segments, ESCO Technologies delivers test and measurement instruments such as RF and microwave components, signal distribution systems, and integrated test enclosures that support defense and aerospace programs.