Flputnam Investment Management Co. Sells 121 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Flputnam Investment Management Co. lessened its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,376 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 121 shares during the quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $354,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in VMC. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 240.4% during the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 160 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth $42,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at about $57,000. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VMC has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup cut their target price on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $325.00 price target on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $304.55.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

NYSE VMC opened at $239.31 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $263.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $261.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 2.02. Vulcan Materials has a 1 year low of $225.36 and a 1 year high of $298.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.62 billion, a PE ratio of 34.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.84.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. The company had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.46 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.61%.

Vulcan Materials Company Profile

Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The company provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities.