Venturi Wealth Management LLC Grows Stake in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI)

Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI - Free Report) by 272.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,917 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,059 shares during the quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Armstrong World Industries were worth $974,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of AWI. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,648,141 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $656,922,000 after purchasing an additional 34,579 shares during the last quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in Armstrong World Industries by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. now owns 1,198,801 shares of the construction company's stock worth $169,427,000 after buying an additional 19,787 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 887,358 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $125,444,000 after purchasing an additional 35,738 shares during the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. increased its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 140.4% in the fourth quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 666,000 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $94,126,000 after purchasing an additional 389,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 267.1% in the fourth quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 532,602 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $75,273,000 after purchasing an additional 387,537 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.93% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on AWI. Loop Capital decreased their price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Armstrong World Industries from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $162.88.

Armstrong World Industries Price Performance

Armstrong World Industries stock traded up $1.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $168.67. 256,312 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 276,739. The company's fifty day moving average is $159.83 and its 200-day moving average is $150.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.60. The firm has a market cap of $7.33 billion, a PE ratio of 26.99, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.37. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a 52 week low of $117.92 and a 52 week high of $170.85.

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The construction company reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $382.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $370.71 million. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 18.25% and a return on equity of 39.37%. Armstrong World Industries's revenue was up 17.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.38 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 6.18 EPS for the current year.

Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.308 per share. This represents a $1.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 7th. Armstrong World Industries's payout ratio is 19.68%.

About Armstrong World Industries

Armstrong World Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of ceiling and wall solutions in the Americas. It operates through Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments. The company offers mineral fiber, fiberglass wool, metal, wood, felt, wood fiber, and glass-reinforced-gypsum; ceiling component products, such as ceiling perimeters and trims, as well as grid products that support drywall ceiling systems; ceilings, walls, and facades for use in commercial settings; and manufactures ceiling suspension system (grid) products.