MML Investors Services LLC Has $15.13 Million Stock Position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

MML Investors Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 51.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 62,762 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after acquiring an additional 21,427 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $15,132,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 24.1% during the 2nd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,069 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $483,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 9.9% in the second quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,935 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $1,153,000 after acquiring an additional 446 shares during the period. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the second quarter valued at about $237,000. Diversified Trust Co bought a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter worth about $284,000. Finally, NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC increased its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.8% during the second quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 7,740 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $1,809,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. 86.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

Shares of BDX traded down $1.66 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $221.35. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,804,078 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,443,634. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a one year low of $218.75 and a one year high of $249.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.41. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $232.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $233.54.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.77 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.38 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.55% and a return on equity of 14.89%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.42 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. This is a positive change from Becton, Dickinson and Company's previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. Becton, Dickinson and Company's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.97%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $286.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup upgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $255.00 to $275.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $283.50.

Becton, Dickinson and 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.