ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Raised to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Monday.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Stephens increased their price target on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of ESE opened at $148.70 on Monday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $129.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $118.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.74 and a beta of 1.08. ESCO Technologies has a 52 week low of $96.69 and a 52 week high of $154.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.91.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 20.9% during the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division raised its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.4% in the second quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 2,827 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $297,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 5.3% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $320,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 1.8% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,222 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $759,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in ESCO Technologies by 43.0% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 469 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

About ESCO Technologies

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.