Bailard Inc. Raises Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Bailard Inc. lifted its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 4.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,654 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying 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 quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of Badger Meter by 2,457.1% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the period. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Badger Meter by 261.8% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 597 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $128,000 after buying an additional 432 shares during the period. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Badger Meter Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of BMI stock opened at $209.83 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.78. The business’s 50 day moving average is $213.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $213.80. Badger Meter, Inc. has a twelve month low of $150.87 and a twelve month high of $239.11.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.15%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

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.