GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC Purchases 383 Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC raised its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 35.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,474 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 383 shares during the quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $275,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Badger Meter by 472.6% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 18,203 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $3,392,000 after purchasing an additional 15,024 shares during the last quarter. Farrow Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 0.4% during the second quarter. Farrow Financial Inc. now owns 20,064 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $3,739,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN acquired a new stake in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter worth about $220,000. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 29.0% in the 2nd quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 13,142 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,449,000 after buying an additional 2,956 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC raised its position in Badger Meter by 40.9% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 575 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $107,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on BMI shares. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Badger Meter from $180.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Northcoast Research upgraded shares of Badger Meter from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Badger Meter from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Maxim Group lifted their price target on Badger Meter from $190.00 to $207.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 19th. Finally, Argus raised their price objective on Badger Meter from $204.00 to $218.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $184.20.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

NYSE BMI traded up $4.09 on Thursday, reaching $200.93. The stock had a trading volume of 35,987 shares, compared to its average volume of 179,570. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12-month low of $134.06 and a 12-month high of $210.29. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $192.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $176.76. The stock has a market cap of $5.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 56.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.78.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 19th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.09. Badger Meter had a net margin of 14.44% and a return on equity of 21.42%. The company had revenue of $216.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $203.39 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.76 EPS. Badger Meter’s revenue was up 23.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 6th. Investors of record on Friday, August 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 23rd. This is a positive change from Badger Meter’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is currently 31.12%.

Badger Meter Company Profile

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.