Empowered Funds LLC Has $8.77 Million Stake in Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:BHE)

Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:BHE) by 11.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 193,183 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 19,289 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Benchmark Electronics were worth $8,771,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BHE. Jennison Associates LLC grew its holdings in shares of Benchmark Electronics by 40.1% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 37,972 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 10,870 shares in the last quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Benchmark Electronics by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC now owns 5,620 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $255,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of Benchmark Electronics by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 41,736 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $1,895,000 after purchasing an additional 4,665 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV raised its stake in shares of Benchmark Electronics by 40.2% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,151 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 617 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedge Capital Management L L P NC acquired a new stake in shares of Benchmark Electronics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,870,000. 92.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Jeff Benck sold 6,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.31, for a total value of $271,860.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 418,173 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,947,418.63. The trade was a 1.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 2.10% of the company’s stock.

Benchmark Electronics Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BHE opened at $41.61 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 2.32, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The company has a market capitalization of $1.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.05 and a beta of 0.99. Benchmark Electronics, Inc. has a 12 month low of $27.44 and a 12 month high of $52.57. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $46.19 and a 200-day moving average of $44.78.

Benchmark Electronics (NYSE:BHE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The technology company reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.01). Benchmark Electronics had a return on equity of 6.68% and a net margin of 2.38%.

Benchmark Electronics Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.63%. Benchmark Electronics’s dividend payout ratio is currently 39.31%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on BHE shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Benchmark Electronics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on shares of Benchmark Electronics from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Benchmark Electronics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $43.00.

Benchmark Electronics Profile

Benchmark Electronics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers product design, engineering services, technology solutions, and manufacturing services in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The company provides engineering services and technology solutions, including new product design, prototype, testing, and related engineering services; and custom testing and technology solutions, as well as automation equipment design and build services.