Commerce Bank Acquires 8,230 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Commerce Bank grew its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 40.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 28,540 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after buying an additional 8,230 shares during the period. Commerce Bank owned approximately 0.11% of ESCO Technologies worth $3,802,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in ESCO Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 747.1% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 150.0% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 305 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of 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 worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in ESCO Technologies by 378.8% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 565 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Benchmark raised their price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 21st.

ESCO Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ESE opened at $151.28 on Monday. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 1-year low of $100.84 and a 1-year high of $171.28. The company has a current ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The stock has a market cap of $3.90 billion, a PE ratio of 35.51 and a beta of 1.07. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $157.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $143.62.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 9.91%. As a group, analysts forecast that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd were given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.21%. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.51%.

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.