Ascent Group LLC Has $2.35 Million Stock Position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Ascent Group LLC reduced its position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 18.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,143 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 2,057 shares during the period. Ascent Group LLC's holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $2,352,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $46,000. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Vulcan Materials

In related news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total transaction of $405,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,832 shares of the company's stock, valued at $764,640. This trade represents a 34.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.62% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on VMC. Stephens set a $315.00 target price on Vulcan Materials and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group raised Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $280.00 to $318.00 in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $287.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Loop Capital dropped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $290.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vulcan Materials presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $302.91.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of VMC traded up $2.70 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $265.23. 2,118,459 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 960,992. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.84. 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 twelve month low of $215.08 and a twelve month high of $298.31. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $251.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $260.09.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The construction company reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.20. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. The business had revenue of $1.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.80 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.74%. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio is currently 27.80%.

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.