Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. Has $21.11 Million Stock Holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 39.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 93,056 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 26,230 shares during the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company accounts for about 1.5% of Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc.’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $21,112,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Keystone Financial Services increased its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. Keystone Financial Services now owns 3,576 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $811,000 after purchasing an additional 579 shares during the last quarter. Kuhn & Co Investment Counsel acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 4th quarter worth $302,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 4th quarter worth $8,882,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 93.8% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 16,603 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $3,767,000 after purchasing an additional 8,034 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on BDX. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $278.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $278.29.

Insider Buying and Selling at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other news, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.99, for a total transaction of $159,593.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 36,033 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,215,163.67. This trade represents a 1.91 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Roland Goette sold 638 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.03, for a total transaction of $139,741.14. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,217 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,113,949.51. The trade was a 4.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 10,544 shares of company stock valued at $2,370,309 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock opened at $224.89 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.74. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $218.75 and a fifty-two week high of $251.99. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $232.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $233.67. The company has a market cap of $65.22 billion, a PE ratio of 37.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.40.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.00 by $0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.47% and a return on equity of 15.74%. Analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.41 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 69.10%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, January 28th that allows the company to buyback 10,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical instruments supplier to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.