Jones Financial Companies Lllp Boosts Stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 42.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,599 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,081 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $926,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $811,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 149.4% during the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 9,393 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,416,000 after acquiring an additional 5,627 shares during the period. Smith Group Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth approximately $514,000. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth approximately $15,719,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 284.9% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 44,650 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $11,104,000 after buying an additional 33,051 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on VMC. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Citigroup cut their price target on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $287.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 price target on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $303.08.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

NYSE VMC opened at $221.47 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $261.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $261.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.33, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 2.02. Vulcan Materials has a 1-year low of $218.71 and a 1-year high of $298.31.

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

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.