Nvest Financial LLC Takes $318,000 Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Nvest Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 1,500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock, valued at approximately $318,000.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 338,198 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $73,866,000 after buying an additional 19,848 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 331,769 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $72,462,000 after buying an additional 2,515 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 295,027 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $64,437,000 after buying an additional 7,967 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 86.2% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 100,788 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $18,782,000 after buying an additional 46,650 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 26.6% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 83,270 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $18,187,000 after buying an additional 17,483 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on BMI shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Badger Meter from $203.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Maxim Group increased their price objective on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased 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 equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $216.00.

Badger Meter Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSE BMI traded up $1.39 on Wednesday, reaching $208.80. 212,621 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 189,801. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $217.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $211.03. The company has a market cap of $6.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.79. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12 month low of $139.50 and a 12 month high of $239.11.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were given a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. Badger Meter's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.