Barclays Issues Positive Forecast for Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Stock Price

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) had its price target upped by investment analysts at Barclays from $278.00 to $279.00 in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “overweight” rating on the medical instruments supplier’s stock. Barclays‘s price target would indicate a potential upside of 24.01% from the stock’s current price.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Becton, Dickinson and Company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $278.29.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

NYSE BDX opened at $224.98 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $232.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $233.88. 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 market cap of $64.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.40. 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 (NYSE:BDX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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%. Sell-side analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, January 28th that permits the company to repurchase 10,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization permits the medical instruments supplier to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.99, for a total value of $159,593.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 36,033 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,215,163.67. The trade was a 1.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Shana Carol Neal sold 788 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.00, for a total value of $185,180.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,201 shares in the company, valued at $3,807,235. This trade represents a 4.64 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 10,544 shares of company stock valued at $2,370,309. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Becton, Dickinson and Company

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BDX. CX Institutional lifted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 128.6% during the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 1,175 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $283,000 after acquiring an additional 661 shares during the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 6.5% during 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 in the last quarter. Probity Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter. Probity Advisors Inc. now owns 1,271 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $306,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 20.9% in the 3rd quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 1,145 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cardinal Capital Management boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 27,125 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $6,540,000 after purchasing an additional 535 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

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.