Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Buys 1,464 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 27.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,775 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,464 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $902,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its position 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 purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 21.7% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 571 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. boosted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 6,779 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 5.3% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $320,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Heritage Family Offices LLP boosted its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,958 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $261,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

ESCO Technologies Trading Up 0.2 %

ESCO Technologies stock opened at $161.22 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 52 week low of $97.11 and a 52 week high of $171.28. The company has a market capitalization of $4.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.84 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $149.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $138.51.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a return on equity of 9.91% and a net margin of 10.44%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 EPS for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.20%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.51%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ESE shares. Benchmark raised their price target on ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. StockNews.com downgraded ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 price target on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 27th.

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.