ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) Shares Purchased by Victory Capital Management Inc.

Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 9.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 70,387 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,874 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned approximately 0.27% of ESCO Technologies worth $9,079,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System raised its position in ESCO Technologies by 56.5% in the first 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 purchasing an additional 4,130 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltd boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 291.2% during the first quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 17,684 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $1,893,000 after buying an additional 13,164 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of ESCO Technologies by 1.2% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,372,850 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $144,204,000 after buying an additional 16,152 shares during the period. Creative Planning boosted its position 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 buying an additional 4,526 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its position in ESCO Technologies by 1.6% in 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. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 1.2 %

ESE stock opened at $148.70 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 1.31. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 52-week low of $96.69 and a 52-week high of $154.00. The company has a 50-day moving average of $129.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $118.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.74 and a beta of 1.08.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is presently 8.12%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on ESE shares. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a research report on Friday, November 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Stephens upped their price target on shares of ESCO Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th.

ESCO Technologies 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.