Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) Stock Position Lifted by Mariner LLC

Mariner LLC increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 6.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 43,331 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,615 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $9,830,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of BDX. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.5% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,179,715 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $284,429,000 after buying an additional 16,918 shares during the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.9% in the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 53,102 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $12,803,000 after buying an additional 996 shares during the period. Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 8.3% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 940 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $227,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 36.3% during the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,943 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $3,362,000 after acquiring an additional 3,713 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 93.8% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 151,082 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $36,426,000 after acquiring an additional 73,108 shares in the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

BDX opened at $198.50 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.97, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.35. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $221.46 and a 200-day moving average of $228.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12-month low of $193.03 and a 12-month high of $251.99.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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%. Equities analysts forecast that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a $1.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s payout ratio is 69.10%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 28th that authorizes the company to buyback 10,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the medical instruments supplier to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on BDX. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $279.00 to $261.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $275.71.

Insider Activity

In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 479 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.28, for a total value of $94,497.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,887 shares in the company, valued at $964,107.36. The trade was a 8.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP David Shan sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $120,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,741 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,377,840. This represents a 8.01 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 4,078 shares of company stock worth $915,986 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

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.