United States Lime & Minerals (NASDAQ:USLM) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of United States Lime & Minerals (NASDAQ:USLM) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Monday.

United States Lime & Minerals Stock Down 3.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ:USLM opened at $90.48 on Monday. United States Lime & Minerals has a 12-month low of $50.78 and a 12-month high of $159.53. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $114.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $112.47. The firm has a market cap of $2.59 billion, a PE ratio of 23.85 and a beta of 0.91.

United States Lime & Minerals (NASDAQ:USLM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 3rd. The construction company reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter. United States Lime & Minerals had a return on equity of 24.55% and a net margin of 34.27%.

United States Lime & Minerals Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.06 per share. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.27%. This is an increase from United States Lime & Minerals’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.05. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. United States Lime & Minerals’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at United States Lime & Minerals

In related news, Director Sandra C. Duhe sold 3,157 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.61, for a total transaction of $298,683.77. Following the sale, the director now owns 2,128 shares in the company, valued at approximately $201,330.08. This trade represents a 59.74 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 2.16% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United States Lime & Minerals

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new position in shares of United States Lime & Minerals during the 4th quarter worth $520,000. Pinnacle Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in United States Lime & Minerals during the fourth quarter worth about $2,021,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United States Lime & Minerals by 34.2% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 18,030 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,393,000 after acquiring an additional 4,592 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United States Lime & Minerals in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $334,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in shares of United States Lime & Minerals in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 27.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United States Lime & Minerals Company Profile

United States Lime & Minerals, Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of lime and limestone products. Its products include High Calcium Quicklime, Hydrated Lime, Lime Kiln Dust, Lime Slurry, and High Calcium Limestone. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.