Axiom Investors LLC DE Decreases Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Axiom Investors LLC DE lessened its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 3.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 73,993 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 2,314 shares during the quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE owned 0.25% of Badger Meter worth $15,695,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in BMI. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. raised its stake in Badger Meter by 2,457.1% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Badger Meter in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Badger Meter by 261.8% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 597 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $128,000 after acquiring an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter Stock Down 5.5 %

Shares of BMI traded down $10.68 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $185.09. 176,260 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 231,673. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12 month low of $151.18 and a 12 month high of $239.11. The company's fifty day moving average price is $207.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $213.39. The company has a market capitalization of $5.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83.

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Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. On average, analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.73%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio is currently 32.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on BMI. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Maxim Group lifted their price target on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $251.00 target price on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $225.20.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 148 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.13, for a total transaction of $31,395.24. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 14,051 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,980,638.63. This trade represents a 1.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 16,073 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total transaction of $3,371,151.02. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 34,961 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,332,720.14. The trade was a 31.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 20,949 shares of company stock worth $4,398,407. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Badger Meter 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.