Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Purchases 3,275 Shares of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM)

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its position in PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) by 4.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 72,064 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,275 shares during the period. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management’s holdings in PulteGroup were worth $7,848,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vista Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in PulteGroup by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 18,818 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,049,000 after buying an additional 564 shares during the last quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 76,471 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $8,328,000 after purchasing an additional 1,628 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 38.2% in the fourth quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 7,046 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $767,000 after purchasing an additional 1,948 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PulteGroup during the fourth quarter worth about $464,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its position in PulteGroup by 24.4% in the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 1,961 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $214,000 after buying an additional 384 shares during the last quarter. 89.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PulteGroup Stock Down 0.7 %

PHM stock opened at $115.66 on Monday. PulteGroup, Inc. has a 52 week low of $100.24 and a 52 week high of $149.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $119.02 and a 200-day simple moving average of $127.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.67.

PulteGroup Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th were issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 17th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. This is a boost from PulteGroup’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. PulteGroup’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on PHM shares. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of PulteGroup from $198.00 to $195.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $146.00 to $119.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on PulteGroup from $162.00 to $155.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 13th. BTIG Research upped their target price on PulteGroup from $139.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on PulteGroup from $140.00 to $125.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, PulteGroup currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $144.14.

PulteGroup Profile

PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names.