Analysts Set Bruker Co. (NASDAQ:BRKR) Target Price at $70.50

Shares of Bruker Co. (NASDAQ:BRKR) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eleven analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $68.00.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on BRKR. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Bruker in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Bruker from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Bruker from $69.00 to $65.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 10th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Bruker from $75.00 to $50.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Bruker from $70.00 to $57.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 14th.

Bruker Stock Performance

Shares of BRKR stock opened at $41.19 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.20, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.18. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $46.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $55.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.60. Bruker has a one year low of $34.10 and a one year high of $90.56.

Bruker (NASDAQ:BRKR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The medical research company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.01. Bruker had a net margin of 3.36% and a return on equity of 21.01%. Equities analysts anticipate that Bruker will post 2.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bruker Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th were paid a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 17th. Bruker’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.32%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BRKR. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Bruker by 2,324.1% during the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 703 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in Bruker by 37.5% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 909 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in Bruker by 274.9% in the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,091 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bruker by 18.2% in the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,273 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Bruker by 47.5% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,279 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.52% of the company’s stock.

About Bruker

Bruker Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and distributes scientific instruments, and analytical and diagnostic solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Bruker Scientific Instruments (BSI) BioSpin, BSI CALID, BSI Nano, and Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies.