Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Makes New Investment in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 124 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $32,000.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth $811,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its stake in Vulcan Materials by 149.4% during the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 9,393 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,416,000 after purchasing an additional 5,627 shares during the last quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at $514,000. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at $15,719,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Vulcan Materials by 284.9% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 44,650 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $11,104,000 after purchasing an additional 33,051 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VMC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and cut their target price for the company from $290.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $302.67.

Vulcan Materials Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $234.55 on Friday. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $215.08 and a 12 month high of $298.31. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $256.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.27. 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 cap of $30.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 12.83%. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders 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 represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.61%.

Vulcan Materials Company 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.