Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) VP Kimberly Stoll Sells 1,634 Shares

Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) VP Kimberly Stoll sold 1,634 shares of the 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 transaction, the vice president owned 3,256 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $485,176.56. This represents a 33.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of Badger Meter stock traded down $3.56 on Thursday, hitting $145.55. The stock had a trading volume of 28,058 shares, compared to its average volume of 421,232. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $162.88 and a 200 day moving average of $174.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.32, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.87. Badger Meter, Inc. has a twelve month low of $139.14 and a twelve month high of $256.08.

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

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Badger Meter’s payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Badger Meter

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Badger Meter by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 1,296 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $317,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Badger Meter by 27.3% during the third quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 266 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 76.5% in the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 150 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 15.5% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 521 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $91,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its stake in Badger Meter by 62.3% in the third quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 185 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Badger Meter from $220.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $166.00 price objective on Badger Meter and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $191.00 target price (down from $229.00) on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target 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 analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target 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.