Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Stock Price Down 0.3% Following Insider Selling

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) shares traded down 0.3% during trading on Thursday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $222.01 and last traded at $223.17. 494,650 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 67% from the average session volume of 1,509,143 shares. The stock had previously closed at $223.82.

Specifically, EVP Richard Byrd sold 1,940 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.91, for a total value of $436,325.40. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,411 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,666,808.01. This represents a 20.75 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Barclays increased their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $278.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $278.29.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Up 1.6 %

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $232.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $232.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.61, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.35.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.00 by $0.43. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 15.74% and a net margin of 8.47%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $1.04 per share. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s payout ratio is presently 69.10%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 28th that allows the company to buyback 10,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical instruments supplier to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Becton, Dickinson and Company

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BDX. PKO Investment Management Joint Stock Co bought a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $1,702,000. Northstar Financial Companies Inc. bought a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $315,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 1,444 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $328,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. Finally, Probity Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 22.3% in the 4th quarter. Probity Advisors Inc. now owns 1,555 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $353,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.