Legacy Capital Group California Inc. Acquires 496 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Legacy Capital Group California Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 25.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,446 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 496 shares during the quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc.’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $646,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Shelton Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 27.8% in the 2nd quarter. Shelton Capital Management now owns 2,299 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $607,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 15.6% in the 2nd quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 15,163 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $4,003,000 after acquiring an additional 2,045 shares during the last quarter. Stonehage Fleming Financial Services Holdings Ltd bought a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $57,887,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 12.7% in the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,032 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $800,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ascension Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,110,000. Institutional investors own 86.72% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BDX. Barclays raised their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $284.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $295.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Citigroup cut their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $304.00 to $269.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $282.38.

Insider Transactions at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 848 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.66, for a total value of $238,847.68. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,608 shares in the company, valued at $6,086,109.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, Director Claire Fraser sold 848 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.66, for a total transaction of $238,847.68. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 21,608 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,086,109.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Richard Byrd sold 459 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.48, for a total value of $125,986.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,444 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $945,309.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of BDX stock traded down $1.80 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $233.27. 1,812,401 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,182,385. The stock has a market cap of $67.67 billion, a PE ratio of 47.03, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $256.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.61. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 1 year low of $219.79 and a 1 year high of $287.32.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.42. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 13.91%. The business had revenue of $5.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.75 EPS. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.84 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be issued a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. This is a positive change from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.63%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 73.39%.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

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's BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; syringes, pen needles, and other products for diabetes; and prefillable drug delivery systems.