Stonegate Investment Group LLC Trims Stock Position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Stonegate Investment Group LLC lessened its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 17.7% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,434 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 309 shares during the quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $228,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of ESE. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $35,000. CX Institutional purchased a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 747.1% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 254 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 305 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 627.1% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 429 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of ESE opened at $181.18 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 2.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.73 and a beta of 1.21. The company’s fifty day moving average is $172.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $155.81. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 1 year low of $101.42 and a 1 year high of $187.83.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $265.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $264.96 million. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 11.01% and a return on equity of 10.56%. ESCO Technologies’s revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.09 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 2nd will be paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.18%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on ESE shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Benchmark upped their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies 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.