Claro Advisors LLC Acquires 57,511 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Claro Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Free Report) by 2,053.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 60,312 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after buying an additional 57,511 shares during the period. Becton, Dickinson and Company accounts for approximately 1.4% of Claro Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Claro Advisors LLC's holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $14,541,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. WR Wealth Planners LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.4% during the second quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 2,978 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $696,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.6% during the first quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 1,715 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $424,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.1% during the second quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 900 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $210,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 35.8% in the third quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 167 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the period. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 22.5% in the third quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 245 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. 86.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BDX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $286.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Citigroup raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $255.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Raymond James cut their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $270.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $282.63.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

NYSE BDX traded up $3.42 during trading on Friday, hitting $243.75. 998,553 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,394,272. The company has a current ratio of 1.85, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $70.45 billion, a PE ratio of 53.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 0.42. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $218.75 and a fifty-two week high of $262.23. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $236.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $235.28.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.31 by $0.19. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 14.49% and a net margin of 7.13%. The company had revenue of $4.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.96 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 13.11 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 9th were paid a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 9th. Becton, Dickinson and Company's dividend payout ratio is currently 83.70%.

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.