Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twelve brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $303.08.

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on VMC shares. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 3.0 %

Shares of NYSE VMC opened at $231.70 on Monday. Vulcan Materials has a 12-month low of $215.08 and a 12-month high of $298.31. The company has a market capitalization of $30.61 billion, a PE ratio of 33.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 2.02. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $258.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $260.74.

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

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is presently 28.61%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vulcan Materials

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VMC. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the third quarter worth $30,000. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp acquired a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

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.