Hantz Financial Services Inc. Acquires 18,813 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 43.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 62,408 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 18,813 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $15,047,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BDX. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 12.5% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 12,566 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $3,030,000 after acquiring an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 70,906 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $17,095,000 after purchasing an additional 4,114 shares during the period. Providence Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.2% during the third quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 18,740 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $4,518,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 147.5% in the third quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 2,185 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $527,000 after buying an additional 1,302 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund grew its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.0% during the third quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 157,038 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $37,862,000 after buying an additional 3,035 shares in the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BDX opened at $221.98 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $234.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $234.23. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $218.75 and a fifty-two week high of $249.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.74.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.77 by $0.04. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 14.89% and a net margin of 8.55%. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.38 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.42 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. This is a boost from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is presently 63.97%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup raised Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $255.00 to $275.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $286.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Raymond James reduced their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $270.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $283.00.

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.