Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ Sells 3,540 Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lessened its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 13.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,523 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 3,540 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $5,040,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in BMI. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. grew its stake in Badger Meter by 2,457.1% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares during the period. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at about $39,000. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new position in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Badger Meter by 261.8% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 597 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $128,000 after acquiring an additional 432 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Price Performance

BMI stock opened at $198.09 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.83, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83. The business has a 50-day moving average of $211.97 and a 200-day moving average of $213.87. Badger Meter, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $151.18 and a fifty-two week high of $239.11.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.03. Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.77% and a net margin of 15.12%. Equities analysts expect that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.69%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BMI has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Maxim Group boosted their target price on Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Badger Meter from $208.00 to $209.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $218.75.

Insider Activity at Badger Meter

In related news, VP William R. A. Bergum sold 2,416 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.33, for a total transaction of $508,157.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 14,199 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,986,475.67. This represents a 14.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total value of $240,571.78. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,076 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,064,640.24. This trade represents a 18.43 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 20,949 shares of company stock valued at $4,398,407. Insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Profile

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.