Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) Given New $209.00 Price Target at Stifel Nicolaus

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) had its price target lifted by Stifel Nicolaus from $208.00 to $209.00 in a research report released on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Maxim Group increased their price target on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Badger Meter currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $218.75.

Badger Meter Stock Up 0.9 %

NYSE BMI opened at $215.81 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $217.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $211.28. Badger Meter has a 52 week low of $139.50 and a 52 week high of $239.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.02, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.78.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Badger Meter will post 4.76 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Friday, November 22nd were given a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.63%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.15%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Badger Meter

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its holdings in Badger Meter by 23.1% during the 4th quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 363,164 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $77,034,000 after buying an additional 68,137 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the 4th quarter worth about $10,462,000. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 348.5% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 55,090 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $12,034,000 after purchasing an additional 42,806 shares during the period. Erste Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in Badger Meter during the 3rd quarter valued at about $5,285,000. Finally, Algert Global LLC raised its position in Badger Meter by 39.3% in the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 77,333 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $16,890,000 after purchasing an additional 21,799 shares during the period. 89.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.