SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC Reduces Stock Position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX)

SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC cut its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) by 33.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,286 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 643 shares during the period. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $318,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in BDX. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 96.4% in the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,604 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $673,000 after acquiring an additional 1,278 shares during the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 33.1% in the third quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 12,090 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $3,126,000 after acquiring an additional 3,005 shares during the last quarter. Lido Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 59.1% in the third quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 19,219 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $4,969,000 after acquiring an additional 7,137 shares during the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 242.0% in the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 109,867 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $28,404,000 after acquiring an additional 77,743 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 1.7% in the third quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 112,503 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $29,090,000 after acquiring an additional 1,897 shares during the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:BDX opened at $228.84 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $234.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $237.71. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 52 week low of $224.00 and a 52 week high of $287.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.42.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.20. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.90% and a net margin of 6.76%. The business had revenue of $5.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.86 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 13.04 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 10th were given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 10th. Becton, Dickinson and Company’s dividend payout ratio is currently 83.70%.

Insider Activity at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, SVP Thomas J. Spoerel sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.31, for a total transaction of $71,793.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,976 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $472,876.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,715 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $232.81, for a total transaction of $399,269.15. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,381 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,252,750.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Thomas J. Spoerel sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.31, for a total value of $71,793.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,976 shares in the company, valued at approximately $472,876.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 8,615 shares of company stock valued at $2,033,381 over the last quarter. 0.31% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BDX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays upped their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $312.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. StockNews.com cut Becton, Dickinson and Company from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, June 27th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $290.00 to $285.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Becton, Dickinson and Company in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. They set a “buy” rating and a $274.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $280.86.

Becton, Dickinson and Company 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.