ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Receives “Overweight” Rating from Stephens

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE)‘s stock had its “overweight” rating reissued by stock analysts at Stephens in a research report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $175.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock. Stephens’ price objective would indicate a potential upside of 7.30% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Benchmark upped their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. StockNews.com upgraded ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 20th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 0.5 %

NYSE:ESE traded up $0.87 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $163.10. 16,163 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 115,690. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company has a market cap of $4.21 billion, a PE ratio of 38.31 and a beta of 1.13. ESCO Technologies has a one year low of $97.11 and a one year high of $171.28. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $141.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $134.04.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. Equities analysts predict that ESCO Technologies will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of ESCO Technologies

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in ESCO Technologies by 12.9% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 68,852 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $9,172,000 after purchasing an additional 7,874 shares in the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC grew its position in ESCO Technologies by 35.5% in the fourth quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 48,005 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $6,395,000 after acquiring an additional 12,577 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 7.8% in the fourth quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,861 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $248,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 240,952 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $32,097,000 after purchasing an additional 1,317 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 44.5% during the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 7,799 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,039,000 after purchasing an additional 2,401 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

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.