Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Acquires 128,349 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 7.2% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 1,910,065 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 128,349 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $433,336,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 270,668 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $61,406,000 after purchasing an additional 13,260 shares in the last quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,407 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $319,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP grew its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 58.6% in the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 3,912 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $888,000 after acquiring an additional 1,445 shares during the period. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 85.6% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 1,928 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $437,000 after purchasing an additional 889 shares during the period. Finally, Alpha DNA Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Alpha DNA Investment Management LLC now owns 8,164 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,852,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $227.99, for a total value of $159,593.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 36,033 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,215,163.67. This trade represents a 1.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP David Shan sold 500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $120,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,741 shares in the company, valued at $1,377,840. This represents a 8.01 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 4,078 shares of company stock worth $915,986 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $279.00 to $261.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 7th. StockNews.com upgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective 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. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $275.71.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

BDX stock opened at $198.50 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $56.99 billion, a PE ratio of 32.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.35. The business has a 50 day moving average of $220.84 and a 200-day moving average of $228.50. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12-month low of $193.03 and a 12-month high of $251.99.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.00 by $0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 15.74% and a net margin of 8.47%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company declared that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Tuesday, January 28th that allows the company to repurchase 10,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization allows the medical instruments supplier to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.10%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 69.10%.

Becton, Dickinson and 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.