Apollon Wealth Management LLC Makes New $265,000 Investment in Badger Meter, Inc. $BMI

Apollon Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 1,082 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, valued at approximately $265,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Values First Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Badger Meter by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. now owns 8,739 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,663,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its stake in Badger Meter by 0.6% during the second quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 8,649 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $2,119,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Norway Savings Bank grew its stake in Badger Meter by 2.1% during the second quarter. Norway Savings Bank now owns 2,775 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $680,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Choreo LLC increased its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 4.6% during the first quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,361 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 6.1% in the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,039 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $255,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Badger Meter Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE BMI opened at $179.89 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.30 billion, a PE ratio of 39.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 0.90. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1 year low of $162.17 and a 1 year high of $256.08. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $181.18 and its 200-day moving average is $208.58.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.02). Badger Meter had a return on equity of 21.57% and a net margin of 15.53%.The business had revenue of $238.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $235.38 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.12 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 22nd were paid a $0.40 dividend. This is an increase from Badger Meter’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 22nd. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Badger Meter’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on BMI. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Badger Meter from $216.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Badger Meter from $284.00 to $264.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Badger Meter in a research note on Tuesday, September 9th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $230.00 target price for the company. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Badger Meter from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Badger Meter from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Badger Meter has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $237.00.

Badger Meter Company Profile

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions worldwide. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities market. The company also provides flow instrumentation products, including meters, valves, and other sensing instruments to measure and control fluids going through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, and other liquids and gases to original equipment manufacturers as the primary flow measurement device within a product or system, as well as through manufacturers' representatives.