SFE Investment Counsel Acquires 598 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

SFE Investment Counsel raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 22,820 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 598 shares during the quarter. SFE Investment Counsel’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $5,177,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CX Institutional grew its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 128.6% in the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 1,175 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $283,000 after buying an additional 661 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 150,838 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $36,367,000 after purchasing an additional 2,729 shares in the last quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.6% in the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 7,579 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,827,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 6.5% in the third quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,520 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,304,423 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $555,596,000 after buying an additional 61,185 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Roland Goette sold 638 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.03, for a total transaction of $139,741.14. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,217 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,113,949.51. This represents a 4.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Shana Carol Neal sold 788 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total transaction of $185,180.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,201 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,807,235. This represents a 4.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 10,544 shares of company stock valued at $2,370,309 in the last 90 days. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. StockNews.com raised Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $283.00.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

NYSE:BDX opened at $225.72 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 1.13. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $218.75 and a fifty-two week high of $251.99. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $232.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $233.88. The company has a market capitalization of $65.46 billion, a PE ratio of 37.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.40.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.00 by $0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.47% and a return on equity of 15.74%. Research analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, January 28th that permits the company to buyback 10,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the medical instruments supplier to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.04 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.84%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 69.10%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Company Profile

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.