Gabelli Funds LLC Buys 5,145 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 24.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 26,545 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,145 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $4,572,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of BDX. Saudi Central Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Kelly Lawrence W & Associates Inc. CA bought a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 474.1% during the second quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 155 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. WPG Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the first quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 378.9% in the 1st quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 182 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 217 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.58, for a total transaction of $38,317.86. Following the transaction, the director owned 35,816 shares in the company, valued at $6,324,389.28. The trade was a 0.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 407 shares of company stock worth $73,922. 0.36% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of BDX opened at $188.76 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $188.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $184.09. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12 month low of $162.29 and a 12 month high of $251.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.25.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share for the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 16.42% and a net margin of 7.68%.The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion during the quarter. As a group, analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 8th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 8th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. This is an increase from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 72.04%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BDX shares. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $197.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Argus upped their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $220.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $211.00 to $202.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $204.45.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile

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.