Scientech Research LLC Reduces Stake in Vulcan Materials Company $VMC

Key Points

• Scientech Research LLC has reduced its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 44.8%, selling 2,220 shares, leaving them with a total of 2,733 shares valued at $638,000 as of their most recent SEC filing.
• Several large investors, including Vanguard Group and JPMorgan Chase & Co., have increased their positions in Vulcan Materials, indicating strong institutional support with 90.39% of the stock owned by such entities.
• Equity analysts have set varying price targets for Vulcan Materials, with a consensus price target of $308.36, while recently announced earnings missed expectations but showed a revenue increase of 4.4% year-over-year.

Scientech Research LLC reduced its holdings in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 44.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,733 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 2,220 shares during the quarter. Scientech Research LLC's holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $638,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VMC. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 26.9% during the 1st quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. bought a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $54,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $286.00 to $279.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $308.36.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 2.5%

VMC traded up $7.35 during trading on Thursday, hitting $301.78. 808,082 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 716,890. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $280.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $261.37. The company has a current ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Vulcan Materials Company has a 12-month low of $215.08 and a 12-month high of $302.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.15, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.86.

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

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th were paid a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 14th. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.37%.

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.