Inspire Investing LLC Reduces Stake in ESCO Technologies Inc.

In the third quarter, Inspire Investing LLC reduced its investment in ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE) by 4.3%, as per its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After selling 145 shares, the institutional investor now holds a total of 3,209 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company. The value of Inspire Investing LLC’s holdings in ESCO Technologies amounted to $414,000 according to the most recent SEC report.

In addition to Inspire Investing LLC, several other institutional investors have also adjusted their stakes in ESCO Technologies. For instance, First Horizon Advisors Inc. initiated a new investment in the company during the second quarter, valued at around $36,000. Meanwhile, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in ESCO Technologies by 43.0% in the third quarter, bringing its total ownership to 469 shares worth approximately $60,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares. Other notable transactions include Innealta Capital LLC, which bought a new stake in the second quarter valued at about $50,000, and Central Pacific Bank Trust Division, which also made a new investment in the first quarter worth about $126,000.

EntryPoint Capital LLC significantly increased its ownership in ESCO Technologies by 2,178.3% in the first quarter, now holding 1,572 shares valued at $168,000 after purchasing an additional 1,503 shares. Overall, institutional investors collectively own 95.70% of the company’s stock.

Recent Analyst Upgrades

In a recent analyst report, Stephens raised its target price for ESCO Technologies shares from $135.00 to $145.00 and assigned the stock an “overweight” rating on September 27th.

Stock Performance Overview

On Thursday, shares of ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) opened at $128.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.39, and a current ratio of 2.10. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $121.13 and a 200-day moving average of $112.72. Over the past year, ESCO Technologies has reached a low of $94.59 and a high of $130.89, with a current market capitalization of $3.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.84, and a beta of 1.08.

ESCO Technologies recently released its quarterly earnings data on August 7th, reporting earnings of $1.16 per share for the quarter, slightly missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.03. The company achieved revenue of $260.78 million during this period, resulting in a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 8.82%. Analysts anticipate that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post earnings of $4.15 per share for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Information

The company recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was distributed on October 16th to shareholders recorded as of October 2nd. The dividend paid was $0.08 per share, representing a $0.32 annual dividend and a yield of 0.25%. Presently, ESCO Technologies has a dividend payout ratio of 8.40%.

About the Company

ESCO Technologies Inc. specializes in producing and supplying engineered products and systems across various industrial and commercial markets globally. The company operates through three segments: Aerospace & Defense, Utility Solutions Group, and RF Test & Measurement. The Aerospace & Defense segment focuses on designing and manufacturing a range of filtration products and fluid control devices for commercial aerospace applications as well as filters for satellites and various military applications.

Investing, Stake, Changes