Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Cuts Stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR decreased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 13.9% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 11,150 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 1,798 shares during the period. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $1,921,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Twin Tree Management LP raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1,227.5% during the 2nd quarter. Twin Tree Management LP now owns 22,568 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $3,887,000 after buying an additional 20,868 shares during the last quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 18.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 3,592 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $619,000 after buying an additional 570 shares during the last quarter. Courier Capital LLC raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Courier Capital LLC now owns 5,355 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $922,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Trust Co. raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 10,946 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,885,000 after buying an additional 2,081 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morningstar Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,323,000. 86.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.9%

Shares of NYSE BDX opened at $185.08 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12 month low of $163.33 and a 12 month high of $251.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.05 billion, a PE ratio of 33.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.25. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $190.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $185.17.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $5.32 billion during the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.51% and a return on equity of 16.23%. Equities analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 8th were paid a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.82%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BDX has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Piper Sandler reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $200.00 price target (up from $185.00) on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Friday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $196.00 to $197.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $211.00 price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in a report on Thursday. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $205.40.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 917 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.50, for a total value of $171,937.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 22,226 shares in the company, valued at $4,167,375. This trade represents a 3.96% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders have sold 1,838 shares of company stock valued at $348,392. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.