Creative Planning Acquires 5,736 Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Creative Planning lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 55,463 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,736 shares during the period. Creative Planning’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $9,554,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of BDX. Saudi Central Bank purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Kelly Lawrence W & Associates Inc. CA bought a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the first quarter valued at about $31,000. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 378.9% in the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 182 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Jackson Hole Trust lifted its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 85.6% during the second quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust now owns 206 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In related news, Director Claire Fraser sold 917 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.50, for a total value of $171,937.50. Following the sale, the director owned 22,226 shares in the company, valued at $4,167,375. This represents a 3.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 217 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.58, for a total transaction of $38,317.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 35,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,324,389.28. This trade represents a 0.60% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 1,249 shares of company stock valued at $231,358 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock opened at $192.26 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $186.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $181.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.58, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.25. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12-month low of $162.29 and a 12-month high of $251.99. 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 (NYSE:BDX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 EPS 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 during the quarter. Analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS 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. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 8th will be issued a $1.05 dividend. This is a boost from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 72.04%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on BDX shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $257.00 to $215.00 in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $211.00 to $202.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $196.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Becton, Dickinson and Company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $203.27.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

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.