ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Buy” Rating

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Stephens boosted their target price on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Friday.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:ESE traded up $1.25 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $145.55. 148,427 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 126,530. ESCO Technologies has a twelve month low of $96.69 and a twelve month high of $154.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 2.10. The company has a market cap of $3.75 billion, a PE ratio of 36.94 and a beta of 1.08. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $127.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.59.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies by 56.5% during the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 11,440 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,225,000 after acquiring an additional 4,130 shares during the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd increased its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 291.2% in the 1st quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 17,684 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $1,893,000 after buying an additional 13,164 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,372,850 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $144,204,000 after buying an additional 16,152 shares during the period. Creative Planning grew its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 53.1% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 13,043 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,682,000 after purchasing an additional 4,526 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.6% during the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 13,000 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,366,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

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.