Inspire Investing LLC Cuts Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Inspire Investing LLC cut its holdings in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 4.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,839 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 293 shares during the quarter. Inspire Investing LLC’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $1,239,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in BMI. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $10,622,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Badger Meter by 66.4% during the 2nd quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 128,651 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $23,974,000 after buying an additional 51,318 shares in the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $10,462,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 86.2% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 100,788 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $18,782,000 after buying an additional 46,650 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 348.5% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 55,090 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $12,034,000 after buying an additional 42,806 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on BMI shares. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $203.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Maxim Group raised their price objective on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $216.00.

Badger Meter Stock Up 0.3 %

Badger Meter stock opened at $219.14 on Friday. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52-week low of $139.50 and a 52-week high of $239.11. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $218.20 and its 200 day moving average is $210.28. The company has a market cap of $6.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.38, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.79.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were given a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 22nd. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is 33.75%.

Badger Meter Profile

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.