Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Shares Sold by Sentry Investment Management LLC

Sentry Investment Management LLC lowered its stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 14.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 498 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 81 shares during the quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $128,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VMC. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 240.4% during the third quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 160 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth about $42,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 138.5% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth about $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. StockNews.com raised shares of Vulcan Materials from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $349.00 price target on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $304.55.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $250.36 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $264.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $261.65. The stock has a market cap of $33.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.84. Vulcan Materials has a fifty-two week low of $225.36 and a fifty-two week high of $298.31. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

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

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $0.49 dividend. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. 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.