Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Boosts Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 7.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 63,406 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 4,328 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.22% of Badger Meter worth $13,450,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 72.9% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 19,621 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $3,656,000 after purchasing an additional 8,271 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Badger Meter by 47.1% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 126,100 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $23,499,000 after buying an additional 40,400 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,032,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in Badger Meter in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,833,000. Finally, Bridges Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $577,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:BMI traded up $1.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $215.06. 132,073 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 158,110. The stock has a market cap of $6.33 billion, a PE ratio of 53.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.79. The business's fifty day moving average is $218.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $209.66. Badger Meter, Inc. has a one year low of $139.50 and a one year high of $239.11.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.03). Badger Meter had a net margin of 14.80% and a return on equity of 21.56%. The firm had revenue of $208.44 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $212.08 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.88 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.19 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were paid a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.63%. Badger Meter's payout ratio is currently 33.75%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on BMI shares. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Maxim Group upped their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Badger Meter from $203.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $216.00.

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.