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

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

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on ESE. Stephens boosted their target price on 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 objective on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Friday, November 15th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Down 1.7 %

NYSE ESE opened at $139.97 on Friday. ESCO Technologies has a 1 year low of $96.69 and a 1 year high of $154.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.61 billion, a PE ratio of 35.53 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The business’s 50-day moving average is $136.79 and its 200 day moving average is $122.51.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.23%. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is 8.12%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESE. First Horizon Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 43.0% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 469 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of ESCO Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 990 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $128,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stonegate Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $207,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

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.