ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) Hits New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $309.12 and last traded at $304.7590, with a volume of 73054 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $291.33.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of ESCO Technologies in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $350.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of ESCO Technologies from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Sunday, February 15th. CJS Securities upgraded shares of ESCO Technologies to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of ESCO Technologies from a “buy (a-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ESCO Technologies has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $275.00.

ESCO Technologies Stock Performance

The firm’s 50 day moving average is $269.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $231.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.91 billion, a PE ratio of 26.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.33.

ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.32. ESCO Technologies had a net margin of 25.28% and a return on equity of 12.55%. The firm had revenue of $289.66 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $289.30 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.92 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.3% on a year-over-year basis. ESCO Technologies has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.750-1.850 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-8.15 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that ESCO Technologies Inc. will post 5.65 earnings per share for the current year.

ESCO Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 2nd. ESCO Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 2.72%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ESCO Technologies

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESE. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 97,963,600.0% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,938,911 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $574,234,000 after buying an additional 2,938,908 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 345.8% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 707,244 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $135,699,000 after buying an additional 548,600 shares during the period. Capital World Investors increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 103.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 902,956 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $176,429,000 after buying an additional 458,980 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 1,204.3% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 432,050 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $91,210,000 after buying an additional 398,926 shares during the period. Finally, Tributary Capital Management LLC increased its stake in ESCO Technologies by 92.5% during the 3rd quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 311,910 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $65,847,000 after buying an additional 149,918 shares during the period. 95.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

ESCO Technologies Company Profile

ESCO Technologies Inc is a diversified manufacturer of engineered products and systems designed to meet customers’ critical performance requirements in the test, measurement, control, and filtration of data, fluids, and gases. The company serves a wide range of end markets, including commercial aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and communication network sectors. ESCO’s solutions are tailored to environments where reliability, precision and regulatory compliance are paramount.

Operating through multiple business segments, ESCO Technologies delivers test and measurement instruments such as RF and microwave components, signal distribution systems, and integrated test enclosures that support defense and aerospace programs.