Humankind Investments LLC Raises Holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Humankind Investments LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 53.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,389 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,337 shares during the period. Becton, Dickinson and Company comprises 0.5% of Humankind Investments LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Humankind Investments LLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $2,134,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. IHT Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 12.5% during the 2nd quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,293 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $567,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. GMT Capital Corp purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the second quarter valued at about $15,589,000. Engineers Gate Manager LP purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the second quarter valued at about $3,280,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.5% during the second quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 124,945 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $21,522,000 after purchasing an additional 6,469 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 56.7% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 822,694 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $141,709,000 after purchasing an additional 297,558 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 0.2%

Becton, Dickinson and Company stock opened at $200.82 on Friday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12 month low of $162.29 and a 12 month high of $251.99. The company has a market capitalization of $57.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.25. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $188.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $184.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion during the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 16.42% and a net margin of 7.68%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 8th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. This is a boost from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s payout ratio is currently 72.04%.

Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 217 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.58, for a total transaction of $38,317.86. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 35,816 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,324,389.28. This trade represents a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders have sold a total of 407 shares of company stock worth $73,922 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on BDX shares. Wall Street Zen cut Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $197.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Argus upped their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $220.00 to $230.00 in a report on Monday, September 15th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $224.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Becton, Dickinson and Company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $204.91.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.