Dundas Partners LLP Decreases Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI

Dundas Partners LLP decreased its position in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 90.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 773 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 7,671 shares during the period. Dundas Partners LLP’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $138,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMI. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Badger Meter by 148.3% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 48,190 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $11,804,000 after acquiring an additional 28,779 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its holdings in Badger Meter by 13.5% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 70,488 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $12,588,000 after purchasing an additional 8,387 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its stake in Badger Meter by 43.7% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 330,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $58,938,000 after purchasing an additional 100,298 shares in the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Badger Meter by 85.9% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 82,568 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $14,745,000 after purchasing an additional 38,160 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Badger Meter by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 135,070 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $33,085,000 after purchasing an additional 3,219 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Fred J. Begale sold 2,064 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $309,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 3,040 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $456,000. This represents a 40.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Robert Wrocklage purchased 1,650 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The shares were bought at an average price of $152.35 per share, for a total transaction of $251,377.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 19,541 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,977,071.35. This trade represents a 9.22% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 3,846 shares of company stock valued at $575,339. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BMI opened at $148.79 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.87. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1-year low of $139.14 and a 1-year high of $256.08. The company’s fifty day moving average is $161.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $173.60.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.15 by ($0.01). Badger Meter had a return on equity of 20.71% and a net margin of 15.45%.The business had revenue of $220.71 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $232.30 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.04 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on BMI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Badger Meter from $232.00 to $190.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Badger Meter in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Robert W. Baird set a $165.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $220.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Argus lowered shares of Badger Meter from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $181.88.

Badger Meter Company Profile

Badger Meter, founded in 1905 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader in flow measurement and control solutions. The company’s core business centers on the design, manufacture and sale of water meters, control valves and related accessories for municipal and industrial water utilities. Over its more than a century of operation, Badger Meter has built a reputation for precision engineering, durability and compliance with international regulatory standards.

The company’s product portfolio includes mechanical and ultrasonic water meters, electromagnetic flow meters for industrial applications, and a range of control valves that help utilities manage pressure and flow in distribution networks.