ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the company. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Friday, November 15th. Stephens upped their price objective on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th.

ESCO Technologies Trading Down 2.6 %

NYSE:ESE opened at $128.73 on Thursday. ESCO Technologies has a 12-month low of $96.69 and a 12-month high of $154.00. The firm has a market cap of $3.32 billion, a PE ratio of 32.67 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $140.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $126.70.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 76,505 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $8,036,000 after buying an additional 493 shares in the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc grew its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.8% in the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 19,630 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,062,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.1% in the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 64,513 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $6,776,000 after purchasing an additional 676 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 7,222 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $759,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 106,136 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $11,149,000 after purchasing an additional 1,003 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.