Natixis Advisors LLC Reduces Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Natixis Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 3.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 53,876 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 1,741 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned 0.18% of Badger Meter worth $10,250,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in Badger Meter by 162.5% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 147 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Badger Meter by 100.0% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Badger Meter by 83.0% in the first quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 194 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Trading Down 4.0%

Shares of NYSE BMI opened at $181.15 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.34 billion, a PE ratio of 39.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.84. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $234.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $218.63. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 12-month low of $162.17 and a 12-month high of $256.08.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.02). Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.53% and a return on equity of 21.57%. The company had revenue of $238.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $235.38 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.12 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on BMI. Raymond James Financial began coverage on Badger Meter in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Argus set a $240.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $224.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Badger Meter from $284.00 to $264.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $238.40.

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.