Bruker Co. (NASDAQ:BRKR) Sees Significant Drop in Short Interest

Bruker Co. (NASDAQ:BRKR - Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,610,000 shares, a decrease of 31.7% from the January 31st total of 6,750,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,560,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.0 days. Currently, 4.5% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Bruker Price Performance

Shares of BRKR traded up $1.33 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $48.20. The stock had a trading volume of 2,061,942 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,242,735. The business has a fifty day moving average of $55.37 and a 200 day moving average of $59.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.60. The firm has a market cap of $7.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 63.42, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.16. Bruker has a 12 month low of $45.29 and a 12 month high of $94.86.

Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The medical research company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.01. Bruker had a net margin of 3.36% and a return on equity of 21.01%. Equities analysts predict that Bruker will post 2.69 EPS for the current year.

Bruker Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.41%. Bruker's dividend payout ratio is presently 26.32%.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BRKR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Bruker from $80.00 to $75.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Bruker in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $66.00 target price on the stock. Barclays reduced their target price on Bruker from $69.00 to $65.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Bruker from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Bruker from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $70.50.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bruker

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in Bruker by 4,636.4% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 521 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bruker by 2,324.1% in the fourth quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 703 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Bruker by 37.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 909 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Bruker by 47.5% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,279 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in Bruker by 18.2% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,273 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. 79.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Bruker Company Profile

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.