Marietta Investment Partners LLC Has $1.52 Million Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI

Marietta Investment Partners LLC lessened its position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 38.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 8,534 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 5,251 shares during the period. Marietta Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $1,524,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC grew its position in Badger Meter by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 1,296 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 27.3% in the third quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 266 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT lifted its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 2.4% in the third quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,589 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $641,000 after buying an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 0.9% during the second quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 9,834 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,409,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Badger Meter by 6.6% during the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,372 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $245,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BMI opened at $146.10 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.26 billion, a PE ratio of 30.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.87. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1 year low of $139.14 and a 1 year high of $256.08. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $162.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $174.06.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.15 by ($0.01). Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.45% and a return on equity of 20.71%. The company had revenue of $220.71 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $232.30 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.04 EPS. Badger Meter’s quarterly revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.33%.

Insider Activity at Badger Meter

In other news, EVP Robert Wrocklage purchased 1,650 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $152.35 per share, for a total transaction of $251,377.50. Following the purchase, the executive vice president owned 19,541 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,977,071.35. The trade was a 9.22% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Kimberly K. Stoll sold 1,634 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.01, for a total value of $243,482.34. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 3,256 shares in the company, valued at $485,176.56. This represents a 33.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 3,846 shares of company stock worth $575,339. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on BMI. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $167.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Barclays set a $136.00 target price on Badger Meter and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $166.00 price target on Badger Meter and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Robert W. Baird set a $165.00 price objective on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $232.00 to $190.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $181.88.

Badger Meter Company Profile

Badger Meter, founded in 1905 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader in flow measurement and control solutions. The company’s core business centers on the design, manufacture and sale of water meters, control valves and related accessories for municipal and industrial water utilities. Over its more than a century of operation, Badger Meter has built a reputation for precision engineering, durability and compliance with international regulatory standards.

The company’s product portfolio includes mechanical and ultrasonic water meters, electromagnetic flow meters for industrial applications, and a range of control valves that help utilities manage pressure and flow in distribution networks.