Entropy Technologies LP Has $4.03 Million Stock Holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Entropy Technologies LP increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 145.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,705 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 9,893 shares during the quarter. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $4,028,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BDX. WR Wealth Planners LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 2,978 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $696,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.1% in the 2nd quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 900 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $210,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 35.8% in the 3rd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 167 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 22.5% in the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 245 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tompkins Financial Corp lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 44.2% in the 3rd quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 150 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.97% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BDX shares. Citigroup raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the company from $255.00 to $275.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $286.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Raymond James decreased their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $270.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $283.00.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE BDX traded down $3.35 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $231.26. The company had a trading volume of 1,186,856 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,402,289. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $236.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $235.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 1.17. The company has a market capitalization of $66.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.52, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12-month low of $218.75 and a 12-month high of $249.89.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.77 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.38 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.55% and a return on equity of 14.89%. The firm's revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.42 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.37 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This is a positive change from Becton, Dickinson and Company's previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. Becton, Dickinson and Company's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.03%.

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.