ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Price Target Raised to $190.00

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) had its target price increased by Benchmark from $150.00 to $190.00 in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 20th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of ESE stock opened at $164.64 on Tuesday. ESCO Technologies has a 1-year low of $97.11 and a 1-year high of $167.61. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $137.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $130.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The company has a market cap of $4.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.65 and a beta of 1.13.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.99% and a net margin of 10.44%. On average, research analysts expect that ESCO Technologies will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.19%. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is presently 7.51%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ESE. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 747.1% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 305 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 20.9% in the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 627.1% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 429 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 370 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

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.