Ballentine Partners LLC Makes New $225,000 Investment in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Ballentine Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 826 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $225,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the first quarter worth $33,000. Private Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at $45,000. Trust Co. of Vermont lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 144.0% in the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 244 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $55,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avalon Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at $58,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VMC opened at $245.91 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 2.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $257.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $249.45. Vulcan Materials has a fifty-two week low of $190.51 and a fifty-two week high of $276.58. The firm has a market cap of $32.52 billion, a PE ratio of 35.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.84.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 2nd. The construction company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by ($0.11). Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.32% and a net margin of 11.92%. The firm had revenue of $1.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.95 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Vulcan Materials will post 8.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 7th. Investors of record on Friday, May 24th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.86%.

Insider Activity at Vulcan Materials

In related news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.50, for a total transaction of $254,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,660 shares in the company, valued at approximately $676,970. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Vulcan Materials news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.50, for a total transaction of $254,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,660 shares in the company, valued at approximately $676,970. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 6,610 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.64, for a total value of $1,802,150.40. Following the transaction, the president now owns 4,784 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,304,309.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 17,210 shares of company stock worth $4,653,520 in the last 90 days. 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on VMC shares. Citigroup upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $263.00 to $322.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 5th. Stephens upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $319.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up from $245.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $277.08.

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.