StockNews.com Upgrades ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) to “Buy”

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued on Thursday.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Benchmark increased their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $175.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research note on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

NYSE:ESE opened at $160.71 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company has a market cap of $4.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.72 and a beta of 1.11. ESCO Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $97.11 and a fifty-two week high of $171.28. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $147.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $137.38.

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ESE. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 747.1% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 288 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 150.0% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 305 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 20.9% in the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its position in 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 valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 370 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

About ESCO Technologies

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.