Jump Financial LLC Trims Position in Vulcan Materials Company $VMC

Key Points

• Jump Financial LLC reduced its stake in Vulcan Materials Company by 38.8%, holding 3,384 shares valued at approximately $789,000 after selling 2,148 shares.
• Analysts are generally optimistic about Vulcan Materials, with a consensus rating of "Buy" and a target price of $308.36, indicating expected growth from recent price changes by various firms.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.49 per share, with a projected annual yield of 0.7%, reflecting a dividend payout ratio of 27.37%.

Jump Financial LLC cut its stake in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 38.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,384 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 2,148 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC's holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $789,000 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. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 26.9% in the first quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 1st quarter worth about $45,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 1st quarter worth about $54,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on VMC. UBS Group raised Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $280.00 to $318.00 in a report on Friday, May 16th. Barclays lifted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $321.00 target price (up from $305.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Monday, August 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $286.00 to $279.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $303.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Two 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $308.36.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

Shares of VMC traded up $1.20 on Tuesday, reaching $292.36. The stock had a trading volume of 1,143,651 shares, compared to its average volume of 753,226. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.63 billion, a PE ratio of 40.83, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $276.81 and a 200 day moving average of $260.12. Vulcan Materials Company has a twelve month low of $215.08 and a twelve month high of $298.31.

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

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

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

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.