Barclays Has Lowered Expectations for Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) Stock Price

Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR - Get Free Report) had its price target decreased by stock analysts at Barclays from $69.00 to $65.00 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "overweight" rating on the medical research company's stock. Barclays's target price points to a potential upside of 27.31% from the stock's previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on BRKR. Bank of America upped their price objective on Bruker from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on Bruker from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Bruker in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $66.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Bruker from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Bruker in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $74.09.

Bruker Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BRKR traded down $0.59 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $51.06. 2,009,823 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,573,269. The company's 50 day moving average is $57.88 and its 200 day moving average is $60.77. Bruker has a one year low of $48.07 and a one year high of $94.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.74 billion, a PE ratio of 24.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.81 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The medical research company reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.01. Bruker had a net margin of 9.41% and a return on equity of 21.52%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Bruker will post 2.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Bruker news, CEO Frank H. Laukien purchased 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $50.14 per share, with a total value of $5,014,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 38,439,563 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,927,359,688.82. This trade represents a 0.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 28.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bruker

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BRKR. Grandeur Peak Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bruker in the 4th quarter valued at $2,368,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Bruker by 29.0% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 3,514 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $206,000 after purchasing an additional 791 shares in the last quarter. Argent Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Bruker during the fourth quarter valued at about $299,000. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its holdings in shares of Bruker by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 48,011 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $2,814,000 after buying an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its position in shares of Bruker by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 6,109 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $358,000 after buying an additional 516 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.52% of the company's stock.

About Bruker

Bruker Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and distributes scientific instruments, and analytical and diagnostic solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Bruker Scientific Instruments (BSI) BioSpin, BSI CALID, BSI Nano, and Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies.