ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $0.08

ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 14th,Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of 0.08 per share by the scientific and technical instruments company on Friday, January 17th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd.

ESCO Technologies has a dividend payout ratio of 6.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect ESCO Technologies to earn $5.64 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.32 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 5.7%.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ESE opened at $133.29 on Tuesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $139.40 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.83 and a beta of 1.11. ESCO Technologies has a one year low of $96.69 and a one year high of $154.00.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on ESE shares. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Stephens boosted their target price on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 24th.

ESCO Technologies Company Profile

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.