Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) Shares Gap Down After Analyst Downgrade

Bruker Co. (NASDAQ:BRKR)’s stock price gapped down prior to trading on Monday after Barclays lowered their price target on the stock from $69.00 to $65.00. The stock had previously closed at $55.59, but opened at $54.00. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Bruker shares last traded at $52.55, with a volume of 358,235 shares trading hands.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Bruker from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Bruker from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $60.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Bruker in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $66.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Bruker from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on Bruker from $80.00 to $75.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $74.09.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bruker

In other Bruker news, CEO Frank H. Laukien acquired 100,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 18th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $50.14 per share, with a total value of $5,014,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 38,439,563 shares in the company, valued at $1,927,359,688.82. This trade represents a 0.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 28.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in shares of Bruker by 4,636.4% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 521 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in shares of Bruker by 115.3% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 661 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC raised its position in Bruker by 2,324.1% during the fourth quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 703 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bruker by 81.0% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 867 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Bruker in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $73,000. Institutional investors own 79.52% of the company’s stock.

Bruker Trading Down 8.0 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.81 and a beta of 1.16. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $58.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.95.

Bruker Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 2nd. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.39%. Bruker’s dividend payout ratio is currently 9.62%.

About Bruker

Bruker Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and distributes scientific instruments, and analytical and diagnostic solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Bruker Scientific Instruments (BSI) BioSpin, BSI CALID, BSI Nano, and Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies.