Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Buys 9,077 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Key Points

• Jefferies Financial Group Inc. significantly increased its stake in Ferguson plc by 342.5%, purchasing an additional 9,077 shares, bringing its total ownership to 11,727 shares valued at approximately $1.87 million.
• Ferguson's recent quarterly earnings showed earnings per share of $2.50, exceeding estimates by $0.44, with a year-over-year revenue increase of 4.3%.
• The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share, representing an annualized dividend of $3.32 and a dividend yield of 1.5%, with a payout ratio of 41.4%.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG - Free Report) by 342.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,727 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 9,077 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Ferguson were worth $1,872,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Grove Bank & Trust raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 247.4% in the 1st quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 198 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Ferguson by 166.7% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 208 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Ferguson by 56.5% during the 1st quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 205 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Ferguson by 106.3% in the 4th quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC now owns 198 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the 1st quarter worth approximately $46,000. 81.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ferguson Stock Up 0.8%

FERG stock traded up $1.83 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $224.73. The stock had a trading volume of 982,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,745,063. Ferguson plc has a 1-year low of $146.00 and a 1-year high of $228.80. The company has a fifty day moving average of $217.26 and a 200 day moving average of $187.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.98, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.16.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 3rd. The company reported $2.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.06 by $0.44. Ferguson had a return on equity of 34.63% and a net margin of 5.68%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.32 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Ferguson plc will post 9.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ferguson Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 20th were paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 20th. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. Ferguson's payout ratio is presently 41.40%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on FERG. Barclays increased their price target on Ferguson from $190.00 to $247.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Berenberg Bank restated a "hold" rating and issued a $215.00 price target on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Ferguson from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. They set a "buy" rating and a $280.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Oppenheimer raised their target price on Ferguson from $189.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Ferguson has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $220.64.

About Ferguson

Ferguson plc distributes plumbing and heating products in the United States and Canada. It offers plumbing and heating solutions to customers in the residential, commercial, civil/infrastructure, and industrial end markets. The company also provides expertise, solutions, and products, including infrastructure, plumbing, appliances, fire, fabrication, and others, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products under the Ferguson brand name.