Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. Has $98.29 Million Position in Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. cut its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 78.1% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 570,627 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 2,036,726 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $98,291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BDX. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 98.2% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,770 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $401,000 after purchasing an additional 877 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 42.6% in the 1st quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,745 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 521 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 174.6% during the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 195,850 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $44,862,000 after buying an additional 124,522 shares in the last quarter. Xponance Inc. boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 42,224 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $9,672,000 after buying an additional 1,198 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grant GrossMendelsohn LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Grant GrossMendelsohn LLC now owns 1,411 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $323,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 917 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.50, for a total transaction of $171,937.50. Following the sale, the director owned 22,226 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,167,375. This trade represents a 3.96% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 217 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.58, for a total value of $38,317.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 35,816 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,324,389.28. The trade was a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,249 shares of company stock valued at $231,358. 0.36% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

Shares of BDX stock opened at $177.88 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $50.99 billion, a PE ratio of 31.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.25. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $186.77 and a 200-day moving average of $182.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a one year low of $162.29 and a one year high of $251.99.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 earnings per share for the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.51% and a return on equity of 16.23%. The business had revenue of $5.32 billion for the quarter. 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 Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 8th will be given a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 8th. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. This is an increase from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 71.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. Argus boosted their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $220.00 to $230.00 in a report on Monday, September 15th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $257.00 to $215.00 in a research report on Friday. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $224.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $203.27.

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.