Financial Consulate Inc. Boosts Stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Financial Consulate Inc. boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC – Get Rating) by 20.8% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,478 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 426 shares during the quarter. Financial Consulate Inc.’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $434,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth $79,000. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth $310,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 19,754 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,459,000 after buying an additional 566 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 302.2% in the 4th quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 181 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, General Partner Inc. purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.08% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Stock Down 3.1 %

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $161.02 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The company has a market cap of $21.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.36, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.76. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $137.54 and a 12 month high of $197.76. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $179.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $173.06.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 16th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.26 by ($0.18). The firm had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 10.09% and a net margin of 7.87%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.25 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 5.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 3rd. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.07%. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.91%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VMC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Vulcan Materials from $191.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Atlantic Securities lowered Vulcan Materials from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $180.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Raymond James raised their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $186.00 to $199.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $200.00 to $212.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $194.00 to $211.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $204.25.

Vulcan Materials Profile

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Vulcan Materials Co engages in the provision of basic materials and supply for the infrastructure and construction industries. It operates through the following business segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The Aggregates segment produces and sells asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete primarily in its mid-Atlantic, Georgia, Southwestern, Tennessee, and Western markets.