Intech Investment Management LLC Grows Stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Intech Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 186.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 28,783 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after buying an additional 18,742 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC owned 0.10% of Badger Meter worth $6,105,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. grew its stake in Badger Meter by 2,457.1% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 261.8% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 597 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 16,073 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $3,371,151.02. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 34,961 shares in the company, valued at $7,332,720.14. This trade represents a 31.49 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $240,571.78. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 5,076 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,064,640.24. The trade was a 18.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 20,949 shares of company stock valued at $4,398,407. Insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

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Badger Meter Trading Down 3.7 %

Shares of Badger Meter stock traded down $7.27 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $189.36. 918,543 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 182,595. Badger Meter, Inc. has a twelve month low of $151.18 and a twelve month high of $239.11. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $210.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $213.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.12% and a return on equity of 21.77%. Equities research analysts forecast that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Badger Meter's payout ratio is 32.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Maxim Group boosted their target price on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $218.75.

Badger Meter Company Profile

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.