Analysts Set Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) Price Target at $218.75

Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Hold” by the five research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $218.75.

BMI has been the subject of several research reports. Maxim Group upped their target price on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th.

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BMI opened at $214.78 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.32 billion, a PE ratio of 50.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.78. Badger Meter has a 52-week low of $147.96 and a 52-week high of $239.11. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $217.06 and a 200 day moving average of $212.12.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Badger Meter will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Badger Meter during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. grew its position in shares of Badger Meter by 2,457.1% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Badger Meter by 1,016.7% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 201 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. 89.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Badger Meter Company Profile

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.