ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Monday morning.

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

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of ESCO Technologies stock opened at $134.53 on Monday. ESCO Technologies has a twelve month low of $96.69 and a twelve month high of $154.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $139.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.14 and a beta of 1.13.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 8.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 20.9% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake 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 worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 990 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $128,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 67.5% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,169 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $156,000 after purchasing an additional 471 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $205,000. 95.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.