Metis Global Partners LLC Increases Stock Position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

Metis Global Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,829 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 333 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $2,611,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 7.4% during the 1st quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,306 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,065,000 after purchasing an additional 296 shares during the period. Spirepoint Private Client LLC purchased a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 1st quarter worth $385,000. Cornerstone Advisors LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC now owns 7,600 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,881,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 843.7% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,237 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $799,000 after purchasing an additional 2,894 shares during the period. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 1,919,583 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $475,001,000 after purchasing an additional 67,305 shares during the period. 86.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.9 %

BDX stock opened at $225.15 on Friday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 12-month low of $218.75 and a 12-month high of $249.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of $65.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.90, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a 50 day moving average of $236.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $235.05.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.77 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.38 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 8.55% and a return on equity of 14.89%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.42 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a $1.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This is a positive change from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.85%. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.97%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on BDX. Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $275.00 to $270.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. StockNews.com raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Citigroup raised shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $255.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $286.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $283.00.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

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.