MQS Management LLC Takes $880,000 Position in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC)

MQS Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 3,770 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $880,000. Vulcan Materials accounts for 0.5% of MQS Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,352,507 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $4,206,355,000 after acquiring an additional 90,157 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 445,691 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,348,418 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $859,171,000 after acquiring an additional 36,833 shares during the period. Stockbridge Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 177,918 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $380,369,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

VMC traded down $0.21 during trading on Monday, hitting $268.79. The stock had a trading volume of 120,934 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,061,470. The firm has a market cap of $35.51 billion, a PE ratio of 38.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.82. Vulcan Materials Company has a 12 month low of $215.08 and a 12 month high of $298.31. The company has a current ratio of 2.42, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $265.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $256.32.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The construction company reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.20. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.50% and a return on equity of 12.91%. The company had revenue of $1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.80 EPS. The business's revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. Vulcan Materials's payout ratio is 27.80%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total transaction of $405,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 2,832 shares in the company, valued at approximately $764,640. The trade was a 34.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on VMC. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $273.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $280.00 to $318.00 in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Loop Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $302.91.

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.