ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Monday.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Stephens boosted their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Friday, November 15th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of ESE stock opened at $134.53 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $3.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.14 and a beta of 1.13. ESCO Technologies has a 52 week low of $96.69 and a 52 week high of $154.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $139.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $128.30.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.12%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESE. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 76.2% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 56,216 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $5,905,000 after purchasing an additional 24,305 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new position in ESCO Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $205,000. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 7.2% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 56,669 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $5,953,000 after purchasing an additional 3,782 shares during the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 283.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 16,309 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,713,000 after purchasing an additional 12,056 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 24.1% during the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 49,723 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $5,223,000 after purchasing an additional 9,654 shares during the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

ESCO Technologies Company Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.