ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) Holdings Trimmed by PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lowered its stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 6.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,606 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 245 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $574,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in ESCO Technologies during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. CX Institutional bought a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC bought a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at $38,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its position in ESCO Technologies by 627.1% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 429 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 32.2% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 402 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 98 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 $199.31 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market cap of $5.15 billion, a PE ratio of 44.89 and a beta of 1.23. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a twelve month low of $113.30 and a twelve month high of $200.45. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $190.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $170.35.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.65 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $296.34 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $320.23 million. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 11.19% and a net margin of 10.37%. ESCO Technologies’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.16 EPS. On average, analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 2nd will be paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.21%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ESE. Benchmark increased their target price on ESCO Technologies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Wall Street Zen lowered ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday.

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.