ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Reaches New 52-Week High – Here’s What Happened

ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $167.76 and last traded at $168.05, with a volume of 40398 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $163.27.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on ESE shares. StockNews.com raised ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 20th. Benchmark upped their price target on ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Down 4.5 %

The business has a fifty day moving average of $139.54 and a 200 day moving average of $132.59. The firm has a market cap of $4.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.04 and a beta of 1.13. 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 (NYSE:ESE) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. On average, equities research analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.20%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.51%.

Institutional Trading of ESCO Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESE. Creative Planning raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 53.1% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 13,043 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,682,000 after buying an additional 4,526 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 17.9% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 990 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $128,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 106,760 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $13,770,000 after buying an additional 624 shares during the period. Tributary Capital Management LLC raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 28.7% during the 3rd quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 180,352 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $23,262,000 after buying an additional 40,268 shares during the period. Finally, US Bancorp DE raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 12,361 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,594,000 after buying an additional 822 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.