StockNews.com Initiates Coverage on Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI)

Stock analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI – Get Rating) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. The brokerage set a “hold” rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Badger Meter Price Performance

Badger Meter stock opened at $114.26 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $117.07 and its 200 day moving average is $109.16. The firm has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.34 and a beta of 0.89. Badger Meter has a one year low of $73.20 and a one year high of $124.35.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI – Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.60. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 15.73% and a net margin of 11.76%. The firm had revenue of $147.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $142.90 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.59 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 8.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Badger Meter will post 2.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Badger Meter

In other Badger Meter news, VP Kimberly K. Stoll sold 1,620 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.88, for a total value of $195,825.60. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 4,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $533,443.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, VP Fred J. Begale sold 385 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.73, for a total transaction of $46,096.05. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 2,863 shares in the company, valued at $342,786.99. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Kimberly K. Stoll sold 1,620 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.88, for a total value of $195,825.60. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 4,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $533,443.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Badger Meter

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BMI. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 15.7% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 5,764 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $575,000 after acquiring an additional 780 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 9.1% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,393 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $537,000 after buying an additional 449 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 6.1% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 29,408 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $2,933,000 after buying an additional 1,685 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 12.7% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 13,216 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,332,000 after buying an additional 1,493 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Badger Meter during the first quarter worth $291,000. Institutional investors own 86.21% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Company Profile

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Badger Meter, Inc engages in the provision of flow measurement, control products, and communications solutions that serve water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. Its products are classified into two categories: Municipal Water and Flow Instrumentation. Municipal water products include water meters and related technologies to municipal water utilities.