National Pension Service Cuts Stock Position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

National Pension Service lessened its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 5.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 151,176 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 8,481 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $38,887,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth $30,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 113 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth $42,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth $57,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 1.0 %

VMC opened at $247.55 on Friday. 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 $32.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.14, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.84. Vulcan Materials has a 52 week low of $225.36 and a 52 week high of $298.31. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $264.32 and its 200 day simple moving average is $261.58.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 last year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate 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. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid 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 dividend yield of 0.79%. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.61%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VMC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. UBS Group initiated coverage on Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, November 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $349.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial upped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $304.55.

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.