ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Receives “Buy” Rating from Benchmark

Benchmark restated their buy rating on shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $150.00 price objective on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Separately, Stephens raised their price objective on shares of 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 Up 3.1 %

NYSE ESE traded up $4.30 on Friday, reaching $144.30. 304,666 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 126,431. ESCO Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $96.69 and a fifty-two week high of $154.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.35 and a beta of 1.08. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $127.36 and its 200 day moving average price is $117.09. The company has a current ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 8.29%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ESE. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in 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 acquiring an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division grew its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.4% in the second quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 2,827 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $297,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $320,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in 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 buying an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in ESCO Technologies by 43.0% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 469 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.