Avantax Advisory Services Inc. Has $1.08 Million Stock Holdings in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. trimmed its position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 1.2% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 8,137 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 102 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $1,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESE. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies during the 3rd quarter valued at $19,412,000. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,054,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $135,950,000 after acquiring an additional 49,577 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $5,265,000. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 340.9% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 44,413 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $5,728,000 after acquiring an additional 34,340 shares during the period. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 438,536 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $56,563,000 after acquiring an additional 13,894 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of ESE stock opened at $160.66 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a twelve month low of $97.11 and a twelve month high of $171.28. The company has a market cap of $4.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.71 and a beta of 1.11. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $149.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $138.35.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.20%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on ESE. Benchmark upped their target price on ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $175.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th.

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.