Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) Shares Bought by KBC Group NV

KBC Group NV grew its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) by 0.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 331,769 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,515 shares during the period. KBC Group NV owned about 1.13% of Badger Meter worth $72,462,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BMI. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new position in Badger Meter in the second quarter valued at about $10,622,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 66.4% in the second quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 128,651 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $23,974,000 after buying an additional 51,318 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 86.2% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 100,788 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $18,782,000 after buying an additional 46,650 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Badger Meter by 47.1% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 126,100 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $23,499,000 after acquiring an additional 40,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 80.3% in the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 78,914 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $14,706,000 after acquiring an additional 35,150 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.01% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Badger Meter news, VP Kimberly K. Stoll sold 1,097 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $205.00, for a total value of $224,885.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,861 shares of the company's stock, valued at $791,505. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Badger Meter from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $189.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Argus lifted their target price on Badger Meter from $204.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Maxim Group increased their price target on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $214.75.

Badger Meter Trading Down 1.8 %

Badger Meter stock traded down $3.95 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $219.75. The stock had a trading volume of 43,715 shares, compared to its average volume of 179,140. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $212.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $200.62. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12 month low of $139.50 and a 12 month high of $230.76. The stock has a market cap of $6.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.78.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.03). Badger Meter had a net margin of 14.80% and a return on equity of 21.56%. The firm had revenue of $208.44 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $212.08 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.88 earnings per share. Badger Meter's revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd will be given a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.62%. Badger Meter's payout ratio is currently 33.75%.

About Badger Meter

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.