Quantessence Capital LLC Makes New $307,000 Investment in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Quantessence Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 1,195 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $307,000.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 30.0% in the fourth quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 208 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VMC traded down $2.36 during trading on Monday, hitting $244.68. The company had a trading volume of 185,551 shares, compared to its average volume of 924,840. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $215.08 and a 12 month high of $298.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $238.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $259.67.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.46 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $0.49 dividend. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on VMC. Seaport Res Ptn raised Vulcan Materials to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Raymond James cut their target price on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $273.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Monday, March 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $293.64.

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.