Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Here’s What Happened

Bruker Co. (NASDAQ:BRKR) shares reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $43.51 and last traded at $43.82, with a volume of 290690 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $44.47.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BRKR has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Bruker in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $66.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Bruker from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Bruker from $70.00 to $57.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Bruker in a report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Bruker from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bruker presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $70.50.

Bruker Trading Down 0.0 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $6.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 58.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.18. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $52.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The medical research company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.01. Bruker had a net margin of 3.36% and a return on equity of 21.01%. Equities research analysts expect that Bruker Co. will post 2.69 EPS for the current year.

Bruker Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. Bruker’s dividend payout ratio is 26.32%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bruker

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Bruker by 25.5% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 16,459 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $965,000 after acquiring an additional 3,349 shares during the last quarter. Gordian Capital Singapore Pte Ltd bought a new position in shares of Bruker during the fourth quarter worth $234,000. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd raised its stake in Bruker by 11.2% during the fourth quarter. EDENTREE ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd now owns 158,000 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $9,262,000 after purchasing an additional 15,900 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in Bruker by 17.1% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 356,969 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $20,926,000 after purchasing an additional 52,214 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Bruker by 179.6% during the fourth quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 18,906 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 12,145 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.52% of the company’s stock.

About Bruker

Bruker Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and distributes scientific instruments, and analytical and diagnostic solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Bruker Scientific Instruments (BSI) BioSpin, BSI CALID, BSI Nano, and Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies.