ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $175.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Benchmark increased their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Down 1.6 %

ESE opened at $158.92 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $4.10 billion, a PE ratio of 37.31 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. ESCO Technologies has a 52 week low of $97.11 and a 52 week high of $171.28. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $150.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $138.95.

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

Institutional Trading of ESCO Technologies

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its position in ESCO Technologies by 55.8% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 11,516 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,485,000 after acquiring an additional 4,125 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 9.1% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 70,387 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $9,079,000 after purchasing an additional 5,874 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 5.3% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2.7% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 299,874 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,678,000 after purchasing an additional 7,963 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 31.9% during the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 32,901 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $4,244,000 after purchasing an additional 7,951 shares during the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.