Tredje AP fonden Has $2.70 Million Position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Tredje AP fonden cut its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 50.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,492 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 10,492 shares during the period. Tredje AP fonden’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $2,699,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VMC. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 24.9% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 6,605 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,699,000 after purchasing an additional 1,316 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,250 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $579,000 after buying an additional 263 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 125.0% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 335,984 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $86,425,000 after buying an additional 186,641 shares during the last quarter. AGF Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at about $940,000. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC raised its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 11,027 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,836,000 after acquiring an additional 1,303 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $225.39 on Friday. Vulcan Materials has a twelve month low of $215.08 and a twelve month high of $298.31. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $258.80 and its 200-day moving average is $260.55. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.90, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80.

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, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company 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 is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is 28.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VMC has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup reduced 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. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Vulcan Materials in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $287.00 price target for the company. Raymond James dropped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target 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. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $303.08.

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.