Mirabella Financial Services LLP Sells 48,389 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Mirabella Financial Services LLP cut its position in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 96.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,801 shares of the company’s stock after selling 48,389 shares during the period. Mirabella Financial Services LLP’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $313,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Manchester Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Ferguson by 906.7% during the fourth quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ferguson in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in Ferguson by 92.5% in the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 258 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the period. Finally, Assetmark Inc. raised its stake in Ferguson by 41.1% during the fourth quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. 81.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ferguson Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ FERG opened at $164.28 on Monday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $166.66 and its 200-day moving average is $183.15. The firm has a market cap of $32.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.17. Ferguson plc has a 1-year low of $146.00 and a 1-year high of $225.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 11th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.58 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.76 billion. Ferguson had a net margin of 5.68% and a return on equity of 34.63%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.74 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Ferguson plc will post 9.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Ferguson Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 21st will be paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 21st. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.02%. Ferguson’s payout ratio is 40.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on FERG. Bank of America raised shares of Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $185.00 to $225.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Ferguson from $205.00 to $190.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Ferguson in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a “hold” rating and a $174.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup lowered their target price on Ferguson from $189.00 to $168.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Finally, Zelman & Associates cut Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ferguson presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $199.38.

Ferguson Company Profile

Ferguson plc distributes plumbing and heating products in the United States and Canada. It offers plumbing and heating solutions to customers in the residential, commercial, civil/infrastructure, and industrial end markets. The company also provides expertise, solutions, and products, including infrastructure, plumbing, appliances, fire, fabrication, and others, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products under the Ferguson brand name.