ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Rating Lowered to "Hold" at StockNews.com

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

Several other research firms have also weighed in on ESE. Benchmark lifted their price objective on ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $175.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Down 1.5 %

ESE traded down $2.39 during trading on Monday, reaching $161.95. 27,698 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 117,276. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $144.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $135.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 2.04. The stock has a market cap of $4.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.01 and a beta of 1.13. ESCO Technologies has a twelve month low of $97.11 and a twelve month high of $171.28.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. Equities analysts expect that ESCO Technologies will post 5.65 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ESE. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 152.6% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 380,104 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $50,634,000 after purchasing an additional 229,601 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the fourth quarter valued at $13,066,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $11,435,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 87.3% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 144,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $19,187,000 after acquiring an additional 67,116 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,054,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $135,950,000 after acquiring an additional 49,577 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.