ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Reaches New 12-Month High After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $229.46 and last traded at $224.2450, with a volume of 54296 shares. The stock had previously closed at $210.17.

The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $286.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $306.39 million. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 11.19% and a net margin of 10.37%.During the same period last year, the business posted $1.46 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 28.9% compared to the same quarter last year. ESCO Technologies has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.250-1.350 EPS. FY 2026 guidance at 7.500-7.800 EPS.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is currently 7.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $187.50.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 3.1% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 315,479 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $50,199,000 after buying an additional 9,402 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 8.1% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 20,352 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $3,238,000 after acquiring an additional 1,528 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 11.3% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 94,081 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $18,051,000 after acquiring an additional 9,562 shares during the period. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $169,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $208,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.59 and a beta of 1.25. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $214.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $198.46.

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.