UniSuper Management Pty Ltd Raises Stock Position in Vulcan Materials Company $VMC

Key Points

• UniSuper Management Pty Ltd increased its stake in Vulcan Materials Company by 9.1%, now holding 12,880 shares valued at approximately $3 million.
• Several institutional investors, including Vanguard and JPMorgan Chase, have also raised their stakes, indicating strong investor confidence, as institutional holdings now account for 90.39% of the company's stock.
• Vulcan Materials reported a miss in earnings for the last quarter, posting $2.45 per share against an estimate of $2.65, while revenue fell short of expectations at $2.10 billion.

UniSuper Management Pty Ltd increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 9.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,880 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 1,079 shares during the period. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd's holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $3,005,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Manchester Capital Management LLC raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 26.9% during the first quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 184 shares of the construction company's stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the period. DRW Securities LLC grew its stake in Vulcan Materials by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. DRW Securities LLC now owns 1,748 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $408,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Vulcan Materials by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,336 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,012,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Vulcan Materials by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 969 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marks Group Wealth Management Inc increased its position in Vulcan Materials by 2.7% during the first quarter. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc now owns 2,203 shares of the construction company's stock worth $514,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE VMC traded up $0.63 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $295.57. The company's stock had a trading volume of 57,775 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,020,935. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $281.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $262.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Vulcan Materials Company has a 1 year low of $215.08 and a 1 year high of $302.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.86.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.35 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating and set a $321.00 price objective (up from $305.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on shares of 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. Barclays upped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Vulcan Materials from $303.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $308.36.

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.