ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) Stock Position Lowered by BNP Paribas Financial Markets

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lowered its position in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 32.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,098 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 4,309 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $1,173,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Select Equity Group L.P. boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 277.5% during the 2nd quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 395,460 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $41,539,000 after acquiring an additional 290,711 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $15,632,000. F M Investments LLC acquired a new stake in ESCO Technologies during the 2nd quarter worth about $9,455,000. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lifted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 35.5% during the second quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 185,850 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $19,522,000 after buying an additional 48,693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 18.3% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 283,266 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $29,754,000 after buying an additional 43,907 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

NYSE ESE opened at $142.81 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.68 billion, a PE ratio of 36.25 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $135.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $121.98. 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 Inc. has a twelve month low of $96.69 and a twelve month high of $154.00.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.22%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 8.12%.

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.