Axiom Investors LLC DE Sells 2,314 Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Axiom Investors LLC DE cut its position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 3.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 73,993 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 2,314 shares during the quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $15,695,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Badger Meter by 2,457.1% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 261.8% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 597 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $128,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of BMI opened at $189.86 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $5.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1 year low of $151.18 and a 1 year high of $239.11. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $208.55 and a 200-day moving average of $213.72.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.12% and a return on equity of 21.77%. Analysts predict that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $0.34 dividend. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Badger Meter’s payout ratio is presently 32.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BMI has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Maxim Group increased their price target on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $251.00 price objective on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $225.20.

Insider Activity at Badger Meter

In other Badger Meter news, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 16,073 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $3,371,151.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 34,961 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,332,720.14. The trade was a 31.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total transaction of $240,571.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,076 shares in the company, valued at $1,064,640.24. This trade represents a 18.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 20,949 shares of company stock worth $4,398,407. 0.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.