StockNews.com Lowers Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) to Hold

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Wednesday morning.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on 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 lowered their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Barclays increased their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $312.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Thursday, May 30th. They set a buy rating and a $274.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $290.00 to $285.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $279.50.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of BDX stock opened at $241.86 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $218.75 and a fifty-two week high of $284.48. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $232.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $236.28. The firm has a market cap of $69.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.27, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.42.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.31 by $0.19. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.90% and a net margin of 6.76%. The company had revenue of $4.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.96 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 13.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 9th will be issued a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 9th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 83.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, SVP Thomas J. Spoerel sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.31, for a total value of $71,793.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 1,976 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $472,876.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, SVP Thomas J. Spoerel sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.31, for a total value of $71,793.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 1,976 shares in the company, valued at approximately $472,876.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Roland Goette sold 3,300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $236.73, for a total value of $781,209.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,676,942.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 6,900 shares of company stock valued at $1,634,112 in the last 90 days. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Becton, Dickinson and Company

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 13.5% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 1,119 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $273,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 37.3% in the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 1,197 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $292,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Colonial River Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $206,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 8,696 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $2,120,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 552.0% in the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 163 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

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 operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.