Benchmark Reiterates “Buy” Rating for ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE)

Benchmark restated their buy rating on shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) in a research note released on Friday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $150.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Separately, Stephens lifted their price target on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 3.1 %

Shares of ESE traded up $4.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $144.30. The stock had a trading volume of 304,666 shares, compared to its average volume of 126,431. The company has a market cap of $3.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.35 and a beta of 1.08. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $127.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $117.09. ESCO Technologies has a 1-year low of $96.69 and a 1-year high of $154.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 2.10 and a quick ratio of 1.39.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.29%.

Institutional Trading of ESCO Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Barclays PLC increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 340.9% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 44,413 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $5,728,000 after buying an additional 34,340 shares during the period. First National Bank of Omaha increased its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 25.8% in the 3rd quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 5,343 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $689,000 after acquiring an additional 1,095 shares during the period. Dean Investment Associates LLC increased its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 25.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dean Investment Associates LLC now owns 38,569 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,975,000 after acquiring an additional 7,727 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 31.9% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 32,901 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,244,000 after purchasing an additional 7,951 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new stake in ESCO Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $19,412,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

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.