Magnetar Financial LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Magnetar Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 86.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 12,493 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,796 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $3,214,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in VMC. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter valued at approximately $811,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 149.4% during the fourth quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 9,393 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,416,000 after acquiring an additional 5,627 shares in the last quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $514,000. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $15,719,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 284.9% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 44,650 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $11,104,000 after acquiring an additional 33,051 shares in the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of Vulcan Materials stock opened at $238.66 on Friday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $256.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $260.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.53 billion, a PE ratio of 34.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. Vulcan Materials has a 1-year low of $215.08 and a 1-year high of $298.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 2.02.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 12.83%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is 28.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on VMC shares. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Raymond James cut their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $302.67.

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.