Argus Investors Counsel Inc. Trims Stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Argus Investors Counsel Inc. lessened its holdings in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 2.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,109 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 64 shares during the period. Argus Investors Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $447,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMI. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT purchased a new stake in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $705,000. River Street Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. River Street Advisors LLC now owns 4,682 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $993,000 after buying an additional 352 shares during the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Badger Meter by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,204 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,316,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Institute for Wealth Management LLC. grew its position in Badger Meter by 17.2% in the fourth quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. now owns 1,727 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $366,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on BMI shares. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Maxim Group boosted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $218.75.

Badger Meter Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of NYSE BMI opened at $221.37 on Thursday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $217.41 and its 200 day moving average is $211.69. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $139.50 and a 52 week high of $239.11. The company has a market cap of $6.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.33, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.78.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Friday, November 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.61%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.15%.

Badger Meter 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.