Aberdeen Group plc Purchases 62,850 Shares of Vulcan Materials Company $VMC

Key Points

• Aberdeen Group plc significantly increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 143.9% during Q1, now holding 106,540 shares valued at approximately $24.6 million.
• Vulcan Materials reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.45 for the last quarter, missing estimates by 20 cents, while revenue increased by 4.4% year-over-year.
• A quarterly dividend of $0.49 has been declared by Vulcan Materials, with an annual yield of 0.7% and a low payout ratio of 27.37%.

Aberdeen Group plc lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 143.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 106,540 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 62,850 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plc owned about 0.08% of Vulcan Materials worth $24,611,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 2.1% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,699,662 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $3,896,031,000 after purchasing an additional 347,155 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 5.6% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,967,777 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,625,583,000 after purchasing an additional 370,434 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 7.4% during the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,507,892 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,518,291,000 after purchasing an additional 445,691 shares during the last quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. Stockbridge Partners LLC now owns 1,746,482 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $449,248,000 after purchasing an additional 177,918 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alkeon Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 54.1% during the fourth quarter. Alkeon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,282,001 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $329,769,000 after purchasing an additional 450,000 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on VMC shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Vulcan Materials from $303.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $286.00 to $279.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 1st. UBS Group upgraded Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $280.00 to $318.00 in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating and issued a $321.00 price objective (up previously from $305.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $304.27.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VMC traded up $4.0170 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $292.2970. 529,856 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,045,533. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.67. Vulcan Materials Company has a 52 week low of $215.08 and a 52 week high of $298.31. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $272.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $259.08.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The construction company reported $2.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.65 by ($0.20). The firm had revenue of $2.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.81% and a net margin of 12.52%.Vulcan Materials's revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.35 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 14th. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.37%.

About Vulcan Materials

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.