XTX Topco Ltd Raises Holdings in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC)

Key Points

• XTX Topco Ltd increased its stake in Vulcan Materials Company by 91% during the first quarter, owning 4,052 shares valued at approximately $945,000.
• Vulcan Materials reported $2.45 EPS for its most recent quarter, missing estimates by $0.20, with revenues of $2.10 billion, below analyst expectations.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.49, representing a 0.7% yield, indicating a dividend payout ratio of 27.80%.

XTX Topco Ltd grew its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 91.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,052 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,930 shares during the quarter. XTX Topco Ltd's holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $945,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of VMC. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter worth $497,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 5.6% in 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 during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 9.0% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 162,211 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $41,726,000 after acquiring an additional 13,355 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Vulcan Materials by 33.8% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 59,759 shares of the construction company's stock worth $15,372,000 after acquiring an additional 15,109 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its position in Vulcan Materials by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,488 shares of the construction company's stock worth $640,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the period. 90.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $274.56 on Friday. Vulcan Materials Company has a 1 year low of $215.08 and a 1 year high of $298.31. The firm's 50-day moving average is $265.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $257.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.27 billion, a PE ratio of 38.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 1.51.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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). The business had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.81% and a net margin of 12.52%. The business's revenue was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.35 EPS. Analysts predict that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 14th will be issued a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 14th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.80%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on VMC. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $287.00 to $309.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $286.00 to $279.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Stephens set a $315.00 price target on shares of Vulcan Materials and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $303.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 28th. Three 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $302.45.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,500 shares of Vulcan Materials stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total value of $405,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 2,832 shares in the company, valued at $764,640. The trade was a 34.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Vulcan Materials Company 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.

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