Aviva PLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company $BDX

Aviva PLC grew its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 6.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 214,493 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after buying an additional 12,175 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $36,946,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BDX. Prospera Financial Services Inc increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 40.1% in the 2nd quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 5,936 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $1,024,000 after purchasing an additional 1,699 shares during the period. AGF Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 29.5% in the second quarter. AGF Management Ltd. now owns 21,940 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $3,779,000 after purchasing an additional 5,004 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 166.7% during the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 248 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 59.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 8,786,190 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,513,421,000 after buying an additional 3,268,478 shares during the period. Finally, Savant Capital LLC boosted its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 6.9% during the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 13,836 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $2,383,000 after buying an additional 890 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Claire Fraser sold 917 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.50, for a total transaction of $171,937.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 22,226 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,167,375. This trade represents a 3.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Bertram L. Scott sold 217 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.58, for a total value of $38,317.86. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 35,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,324,389.28. This represents a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 1,249 shares of company stock valued at $231,358 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

Shares of BDX stock opened at $177.88 on Monday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $186.77 and its 200 day moving average is $182.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $50.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.99, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.25. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a twelve month low of $162.29 and a twelve month high of $251.99.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 14th. The medical instruments supplier reported $4.10 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion for the quarter. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.51% and a return on equity of 16.23%. Research analysts expect that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 8th will be issued a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. This is a boost from Becton, Dickinson and Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 71.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BDX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $224.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $196.00 to $197.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Wall Street Zen cut Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $172.00 to $184.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $203.27.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile

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.