Inspire Investing LLC Decreases Stock Position in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Inspire Investing LLC trimmed its position in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 4.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,839 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 293 shares during the quarter. Inspire Investing LLC’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $1,239,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter in the 2nd quarter worth about $10,622,000. Driehaus Capital Management LLC raised its position in Badger Meter by 66.4% in the 2nd quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 128,651 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $23,974,000 after purchasing an additional 51,318 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd bought a new stake in Badger Meter in the fourth quarter worth about $10,462,000. Millennium Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Badger Meter by 86.2% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 100,788 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $18,782,000 after buying an additional 46,650 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 348.5% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 55,090 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $12,034,000 after buying an additional 42,806 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.01% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BMI has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Badger Meter from $184.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Maxim Group lifted their target price on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $203.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $216.00.

Badger Meter Stock Up 0.3 %

BMI opened at $219.14 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $218.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $210.28. The company has a market capitalization of $6.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.38, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.79. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 52 week low of $139.50 and a 52 week high of $239.11.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.62%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio is currently 33.75%.

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.