Stifel Financial Corp Has $762,000 Position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Stifel Financial Corp trimmed its position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 15.0% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 5,911 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 1,046 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $762,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 55.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 11,516 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,485,000 after buying an additional 4,125 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in ESCO Technologies by 9.1% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 70,387 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $9,079,000 after acquiring an additional 5,874 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in ESCO Technologies by 1.2% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,372,850 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $144,204,000 after acquiring an additional 16,152 shares during the period. Premier Fund Managers Ltd bought a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the third quarter worth about $942,000. Finally, Creative Planning raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 53.1% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 13,043 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,682,000 after purchasing an additional 4,526 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE ESE opened at $135.68 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The company has a market capitalization of $3.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.44 and a beta of 1.11. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $96.69 and a 12 month high of $154.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $138.57 and a 200-day moving average of $124.08.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is 8.12%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on ESE. Stephens upped their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Finally, StockNews.com raised ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday.

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.