Vanguard Group Inc. Boosts Stock Holdings in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 1.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,907,533 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 32,306 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 11.27% of ESCO Technologies worth $387,312,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ESE. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 55.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 11,516 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,485,000 after buying an additional 4,125 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 5.3% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $320,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 31.9% in the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 32,901 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $4,244,000 after acquiring an additional 7,951 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,054,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $135,950,000 after purchasing an additional 49,577 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 378.8% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 565 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares in the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ESE opened at $160.76 on Thursday. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $97.11 and a 12 month high of $171.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.74 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.35. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $154.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $141.44.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be paid a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.20%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 27th. StockNews.com downgraded ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Benchmark boosted their target price on ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th.

ESCO Technologies Company Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.