Numerai GP LLC Acquires 922 Shares of Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI)

Numerai GP LLC raised its stake in Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI) by 91.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,933 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 922 shares during the quarter. Numerai GP LLC’s holdings in Badger Meter were worth $410,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,841,879 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $814,939,000 after purchasing an additional 44,839 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 796,528 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $169,448,000 after acquiring an additional 17,873 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in Badger Meter by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 500,946 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $106,261,000 after purchasing an additional 7,719 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Badger Meter during the 4th quarter worth $94,547,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Badger Meter by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 433,169 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $91,884,000 after purchasing an additional 17,060 shares in the last quarter. 89.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on BMI shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $238.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $209.00 to $196.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Argus set a $240.00 price objective on Badger Meter in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Badger Meter from $218.00 to $216.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Maxim Group lifted their target price on shares of Badger Meter from $235.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Badger Meter currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $229.80.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Karen M. Bauer sold 1,147 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.74, for a total transaction of $240,571.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,076 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,064,640.24. This trade represents a 18.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Kenneth Bockhorst sold 1,165 shares of Badger Meter stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.13, for a total value of $247,131.45. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 52,620 shares in the company, valued at $11,162,280.60. This trade represents a 2.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 20,949 shares of company stock valued at $4,398,407. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Badger Meter Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of BMI opened at $244.44 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.20 billion, a PE ratio of 57.79, a P/E/G ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.83. Badger Meter, Inc. has a 1-year low of $162.17 and a 1-year high of $249.65. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $203.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $211.47.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $222.21 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $220.39 million. Badger Meter had a net margin of 15.12% and a return on equity of 21.77%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.99 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Badger Meter, Inc. will post 4.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.56%. Badger Meter’s payout ratio is currently 29.96%.

Badger Meter 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.