Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Buy” Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Wednesday morning.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $278.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $278.29.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Up 0.2 %

Becton, Dickinson and Company stock opened at $226.55 on Wednesday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a one year low of $218.75 and a one year high of $251.99. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $231.15 and a 200 day moving average of $231.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 1.13. The stock has a market cap of $65.05 billion, a PE ratio of 37.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.35.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.00 by $0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.47% and a return on equity of 15.74%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a $1.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.84%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s payout ratio is 69.10%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 28th that allows the company to buyback 10,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical instruments supplier to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 597 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $236.51, for a total transaction of $141,196.47. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,544 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,311,211.44. This represents a 9.72 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Shana Carol Neal sold 788 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $185,180.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,201 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,807,235. This represents a 4.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 4,984 shares of company stock valued at $1,147,865. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Park National Corp OH grew its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Park National Corp OH now owns 38,256 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $8,763,000 after buying an additional 1,089 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 30.6% during the 1st quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 3,395 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $778,000 after acquiring an additional 796 shares during the last quarter. Rempart Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 0.7% in the first quarter. Rempart Asset Management Inc. now owns 82,997 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $19,011,000 after purchasing an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 39.1% in the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 815 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $187,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 22.2% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 54,529 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $12,371,000 after purchasing an additional 9,892 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.