Trust Point Inc. Grows Stake in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Trust Point Inc. raised its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 27.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,309 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,567 shares during the quarter. Trust Point Inc.’s holdings in ESCO Technologies were worth $943,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in ESCO Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in ESCO Technologies in the second quarter valued at approximately $50,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 43.0% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 469 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new stake in shares of ESCO Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at $126,000. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2,178.3% during the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 1,572 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $168,000 after purchasing an additional 1,503 shares during the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Stephens increased their price target on ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ESE traded down $0.09 during trading on Friday, hitting $127.80. 9,794 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 125,062. The company has a quick ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 2.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $121.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $112.82. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 52-week low of $94.59 and a 52-week high of $130.89. The company has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.52 and a beta of 1.08.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.03). ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 8.82%. The firm had revenue of $260.78 million during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 4.15 EPS for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 16th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 2nd were given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.25%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.40%.

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.