ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

StockNews.com downgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Stephens raised their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Friday, November 15th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

ESCO Technologies stock opened at $148.82 on Tuesday. ESCO Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $96.69 and a fifty-two week high of $154.00. The company has a market capitalization of $3.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.50 and a beta of 1.08. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $131.59 and a two-hundred day moving average of $119.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.91.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.12%.

Institutional Trading of ESCO Technologies

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 20.9% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Moody National Bank Trust Division raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.4% in the 2nd quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 2,827 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $297,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $320,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,222 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $759,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in ESCO Technologies by 43.0% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 469 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About ESCO Technologies

ESCO Technologies Inc produces and supplies engineered products and systems for industrial and commercial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment designs and manufactures filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements and fluid control devices used in commercial aerospace applications; filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites; and custom designed filters for manned aircraft and submarines.