Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV Increases Holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 71.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 857 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 358 shares during the quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $213,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Independent Advisor Alliance increased its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 6,411 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,455,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 6.3% in the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 74,103 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $16,822,000 after purchasing an additional 4,412 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 621.1% in the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 235,879 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $64,581,000 after purchasing an additional 203,166 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 150.1% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 4,006 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,093,000 after purchasing an additional 2,404 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 229,757 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $52,157,000 after purchasing an additional 9,193 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on VMC shares. Loop Capital lowered their price target on Vulcan Materials from $305.00 to $285.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Citigroup lowered their target price on Vulcan Materials from $322.00 to $297.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $319.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $272.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, Stephens raised their target price on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $277.08.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.50, for a total transaction of $254,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,660 shares in the company, valued at $676,970. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Vulcan Materials news, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 8,600 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.95, for a total transaction of $2,347,370.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 1,300 shares in the company, valued at $354,835. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.50, for a total value of $254,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,660 shares in the company, valued at $676,970. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 17,210 shares of company stock worth $4,653,520. Corporate insiders own 0.62% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

NYSE VMC traded down $8.91 on Monday, reaching $257.43. 1,297,466 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 781,249. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $252.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $255.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 2.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market cap of $34.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.82. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $190.51 and a 12 month high of $278.79.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 2nd. The construction company reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by ($0.11). Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 11.92% and a return on equity of 12.32%. The business had revenue of $1.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.95 EPS. Vulcan Materials’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.71%. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is 26.86%.

Vulcan Materials 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.