Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Sells 682 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans cut its position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 20,695 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 682 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned approximately 0.08% of ESCO Technologies worth $2,757,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cibc World Markets Corp purchased a new position in ESCO Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $323,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,038 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $405,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 2,919 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $389,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 17,611 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $2,346,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 50,700 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $6,754,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th.

ESCO Technologies Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:ESE opened at $159.79 on Friday. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 52-week low of $97.11 and a 52-week high of $171.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.51 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 2.04. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $152.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $140.12.

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

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

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

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.