Magnetar Financial LLC Has $79.28 Million Stock Position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Magnetar Financial LLC increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 122.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 349,469 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 192,079 shares during the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company makes up 1.9% of Magnetar Financial LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Magnetar Financial LLC owned about 0.12% of Becton, Dickinson and Company worth $79,284,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 81.6% in the fourth quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 270,811 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $61,439,000 after purchasing an additional 121,662 shares in the last quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter worth about $405,000. West Tower Group LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 81.8% during the 4th quarter. West Tower Group LLC now owns 2,000 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $454,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the period. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter valued at about $51,000. Finally, ProVise Management Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 15.8% in the fourth quarter. ProVise Management Group LLC now owns 46,461 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $10,541,000 after purchasing an additional 6,344 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.97% of the company's stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 1,940 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.91, for a total value of $436,325.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,411 shares in the company, valued at $1,666,808.01. This trade represents a 20.75 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.99, for a total transaction of $159,593.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 36,033 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,215,163.67. This trade represents a 1.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 4,984 shares of company stock valued at $1,147,865. Company insiders own 0.36% of the company's stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.5 %

Becton, Dickinson and Company stock traded down $1.13 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $229.10. 1,214,432 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,535,776. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 1-year low of $218.75 and a 1-year high of $251.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $232.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $231.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $65.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.35.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.00 by $0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 15.74% and a net margin of 8.47%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, January 28th that allows the company to buyback 10,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical instruments supplier to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Becton, Dickinson and Company's payout ratio is 69.10%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $278.00 to $279.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $278.29.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.