ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Lowered to “Hold” Rating by StockNews.com

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) was downgraded by StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Monday.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of ESE opened at $160.22 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $143.66 and a 200-day moving average of $135.36. ESCO Technologies has a one year low of $97.11 and a one year high of $171.28. The company has a market cap of $4.13 billion, a PE ratio of 37.61 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.35.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 9.91%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that ESCO Technologies will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pitcairn Co. increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Pitcairn Co. now owns 3,479 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $463,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 20.9% during the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 2,919 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $389,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 571 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,206 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $294,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.