Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Sells 10,534 Shares of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC trimmed its position in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 17.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 50,030 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock after selling 10,534 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.19% of ESCO Technologies worth $6,580,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 20.9% during the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 411 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 571 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $76,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,477 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP boosted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 6.9% during the 4th quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,958 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $261,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stonegate Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in ESCO Technologies by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 1,743 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $232,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

ESCO Technologies Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of ESE stock opened at $167.12 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.23 and a beta of 1.13. ESCO Technologies Inc. has a 1 year low of $97.11 and a 1 year high of $168.35. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $139.00 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $132.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.35.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.34. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 9.91%. As a group, analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 2nd. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.19%. ESCO Technologies’s payout ratio is 7.51%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ESE has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Benchmark boosted their target price on ESCO Technologies from $150.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. StockNews.com raised shares of ESCO Technologies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 20th.

About ESCO Technologies

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.