PulteGroup Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:PHM)

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) was the target of some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Stock investors acquired 9,941 call options on the company. This is an increase of 1,498% compared to the average volume of 622 call options.

PulteGroup Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PHM opened at $116.95 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.67. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $119.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.34. PulteGroup has a fifty-two week low of $100.24 and a fifty-two week high of $149.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The construction company reported $3.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.25. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.64% and a return on equity of 25.30%. The company had revenue of $4.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.90 earnings per share. PulteGroup’s quarterly revenue was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that PulteGroup will post 12.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PulteGroup Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is a boost from PulteGroup’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 17th. PulteGroup’s dividend payout ratio is 6.49%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its position in shares of PulteGroup by 115.1% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 185 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new stake in PulteGroup in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. JNBA Financial Advisors acquired a new position in PulteGroup in the third quarter valued at about $43,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. boosted its holdings in PulteGroup by 1,059.3% during the third quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 313 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grove Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 18.4% during the 3rd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 463 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.90% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on PHM shares. Citigroup decreased their target price on PulteGroup from $146.00 to $119.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $162.00 to $155.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 13th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $165.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $140.00 to $125.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $198.00 to $195.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $144.14.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names.