ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Friday.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on ESE. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $175.00 price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies Trading Down 1.6 %

NYSE:ESE opened at $158.92 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $4.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.31 and a beta of 1.11. ESCO Technologies has a 12 month low of $97.11 and a 12 month high of $171.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company’s 50 day moving average is $150.54 and its 200-day moving average is $139.12.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. Equities analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies will post 5.65 EPS for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is presently 7.51%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of ESE. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 747.1% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 150.0% in the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 305 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 20.9% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 627.1% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 429 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ESCO Technologies Company Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.