ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note issued on Monday.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Stephens raised their price target on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ESE traded up $0.15 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $134.01. 73,695 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 76,114. The business's fifty day moving average price is $139.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.07. The company has a market cap of $3.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.01 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. ESCO Technologies has a 12-month low of $96.69 and a 12-month high of $154.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Heritage Family Offices LLP lifted its position in ESCO Technologies by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,958 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $261,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 571 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in ESCO Technologies by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 20,917 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $2,608,000 after buying an additional 537 shares during the period. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 340.9% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 44,413 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $5,728,000 after acquiring an additional 34,340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First National Bank of Omaha increased its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 25.8% in the third quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 5,343 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $689,000 after acquiring an additional 1,095 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company's stock.

About ESCO Technologies

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.

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