Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Shares Bought by Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Mizuho Securities USA LLC grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 46.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,516 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,953 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $3,219,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VMC. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 30.0% in the fourth quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 208 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at $57,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of VMC stock opened at $234.55 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $256.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $260.60. The firm has a market cap of $30.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.24, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. Vulcan Materials has a 1 year low of $215.08 and a 1 year high of $298.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.46 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.84%. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.61%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VMC has been the topic of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley increased 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. Raymond James dropped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $302.67.

About Vulcan Materials

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.