ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Given New $200.00 Price Target at Benchmark

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) had its price objective upped by equities research analysts at Benchmark from $190.00 to $200.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock. Benchmark’s price target points to a potential upside of 14.24% from the company’s previous close.

ESE has been the subject of several other research reports. StockNews.com cut shares of ESCO Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $175.00 target price on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 27th.

ESCO Technologies Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE ESE opened at $175.07 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.10 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.35. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $156.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $147.17. ESCO Technologies has a 1 year low of $101.42 and a 1 year high of $179.42.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $265.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $264.96 million. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 10.44% and a return on equity of 9.91%. ESCO Technologies’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.09 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that ESCO Technologies will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ESE. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 340.9% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 44,413 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $5,728,000 after purchasing an additional 34,340 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ESCO Technologies by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 20,917 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $2,608,000 after acquiring an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 21.7% in 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 in the last quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP raised its holdings in ESCO Technologies by 6.9% during the fourth quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 1,958 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $261,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its position in ESCO Technologies by 67.5% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,169 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $156,000 after purchasing an additional 471 shares in the last quarter. 95.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ESCO Technologies Company 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.