ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Buy Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Tuesday morning.

A number of other analysts have also commented on ESE. Stephens upped their price objective on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Friday, November 15th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 1.4 %

ESE opened at $135.68 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $138.57 and its 200-day moving average is $124.08. ESCO Technologies has a one year low of $96.69 and a one year high of $154.00. The company has a market capitalization of $3.50 billion, a PE ratio of 34.44 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.91.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 8.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $50,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 20.9% during the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 43.0% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 469 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 17.9% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 990 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $128,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $205,000. 95.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

ESCO Technologies Company 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.