Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Stifel Nicolaus Analyst Says

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Stifel Nicolaus from $208.00 to $209.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "hold" rating on the scientific and technical instruments company's stock. Stifel Nicolaus' target price would suggest a potential downside of 3.07% from the company's previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Maxim Group lifted their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $218.75.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

BMI traded down $5.88 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $215.63. 209,337 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 219,490. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.34 billion, a PE ratio of 50.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.78. Badger Meter has a 1 year low of $139.82 and a 1 year high of $239.11. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $217.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $211.69.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. Sell-side analysts expect that Badger Meter will post 4.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMI. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Badger Meter in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 2,457.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 1,016.7% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 201 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Badger Meter

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.