Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Position Trimmed by MetLife Investment Management LLC

MetLife Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 72,079 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 1,192 shares during the quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $19,030,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BDX. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1,353.9% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,680,292 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $31,207,000 after acquiring an additional 1,564,723 shares during the period. Delta Asset Management LLC TN boosted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 0.8% during the second quarter. Delta Asset Management LLC TN now owns 86,100 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $22,731,000 after acquiring an additional 663 shares during the period. King Luther Capital Management Corp lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 3.4% in the second quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 24,920 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $6,579,000 after purchasing an additional 812 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.6% in the second quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 4,382 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,157,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. Finally, Providence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 0.4% in the second quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 18,221 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $4,811,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.72% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 848 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.66, for a total value of $238,847.68. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 21,608 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,086,109.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 459 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.48, for a total transaction of $125,986.32. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,444 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $945,309.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Claire Fraser sold 848 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.66, for a total value of $238,847.68. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 21,608 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,086,109.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

NYSE BDX opened at $233.67 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $67.79 billion, a PE ratio of 47.11, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.55. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 1 year low of $225.61 and a 1 year high of $287.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $255.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.43.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.42 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.42. The company had revenue of $5.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 7.66%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.75 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.84 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. This is a boost from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.63%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s payout ratio is presently 73.39%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on BDX shares. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $284.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $295.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $282.38.

Becton, Dickinson and Company 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's BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; syringes, pen needles, and other products for diabetes; and prefillable drug delivery systems.