Wealthfront Advisers LLC Has $2.05 Million Stake in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Wealthfront Advisers LLC trimmed its position in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG - Free Report) by 36.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 12,772 shares of the company's stock after selling 7,419 shares during the period. Wealthfront Advisers LLC's holdings in Ferguson were worth $2,046,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in FERG. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ferguson by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 3,481 shares of the company's stock valued at $604,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its stake in Ferguson by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 14,463 shares of the company's stock worth $2,510,000 after buying an additional 181 shares during the period. Xponance Inc. raised its stake in Ferguson by 17.5% during the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 21,511 shares of the company's stock worth $3,734,000 after buying an additional 3,202 shares during the period. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in Ferguson during the 4th quarter worth $11,929,000. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in Ferguson by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 50,779 shares of the company's stock worth $8,814,000 after buying an additional 387 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company's stock.

Ferguson Stock Performance

Ferguson stock traded up $3.73 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $222.57. 1,536,987 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,682,698. Ferguson plc has a 52 week low of $146.00 and a 52 week high of $226.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68. The firm has a market cap of $43.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.17. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $205.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $182.78.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, June 3rd. The company reported $2.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.06 by $0.44. Ferguson had a return on equity of 34.63% and a net margin of 5.68%. Ferguson's quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.32 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Ferguson plc will post 9.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ferguson Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 20th will be given a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 20th. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.49%. Ferguson's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.40%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Ferguson from $189.00 to $231.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $220.00 price target (up previously from $195.00) on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on Ferguson from $189.00 to $235.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Ferguson from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Ferguson in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "hold" rating and a $174.00 price target on the stock. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ferguson has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $220.64.

Ferguson Profile

Ferguson plc distributes plumbing and heating products in the United States and Canada. It offers plumbing and heating solutions to customers in the residential, commercial, civil/infrastructure, and industrial end markets. The company also provides expertise, solutions, and products, including infrastructure, plumbing, appliances, fire, fabrication, and others, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products under the Ferguson brand name.