Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) Shares Purchased by Bailard Inc.

Bailard Inc. raised its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 4.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,654 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Bailard Inc.’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $775,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of BMI. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in Badger Meter by 4.5% in the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,635 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $357,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter in the third quarter valued at $230,000. Geneva Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Badger Meter during the 3rd quarter worth $1,120,000. JB Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the third quarter worth about $218,000. Finally, Portside Wealth Group LLC boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 14.5% in the third quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,576 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $344,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have issued reports on BMI. Maxim Group lifted their price objective on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $218.75.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BMI opened at $209.83 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.17 billion, a PE ratio of 49.61, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.78. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1-year low of $150.87 and a 1-year high of $239.11. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $213.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $213.80.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.12% and a return on equity of 21.77%. Equities research analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.15%.

About Badger Meter

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.