Tributary Capital Management LLC Acquires 173 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Tributary Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 0.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 180,525 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after acquiring an additional 173 shares during the period. ESCO Technologies makes up approximately 1.9% of Tributary Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Tributary Capital Management LLC’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $24,048,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,054,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $135,950,000 after purchasing an additional 49,577 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,047,741 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $135,138,000 after purchasing an additional 18,676 shares during the period. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 438,536 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $56,563,000 after purchasing an additional 13,894 shares during the period. Select Equity Group L.P. raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 277.5% in the 2nd quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 395,460 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $41,539,000 after purchasing an additional 290,711 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2.7% in the 3rd 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 period. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

NYSE:ESE opened at $131.88 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $138.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.47 and a beta of 1.13. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 12-month low of $96.69 and a 12-month high of $154.00.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.24%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 8.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ESE has been the topic of several analyst reports. Stephens upped their target price on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 20th.

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.