PulteGroup Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NYSE:PHM)

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM - Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Traders purchased 9,941 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 1,498% compared to the typical volume of 622 call options.

PulteGroup Stock Performance

NYSE:PHM traded down $0.89 on Friday, reaching $114.29. 2,650,443 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,042,802. The firm has a market cap of $22.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.06, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $104.83. PulteGroup has a 52 week low of $88.07 and a 52 week high of $149.47.

PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The construction company reported $2.57 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.47 by $0.10. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.45% and a return on equity of 22.86%. The company had revenue of $3.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.86 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.10 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that PulteGroup will post 12.32 earnings per share for the current year.

PulteGroup Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 17th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 17th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.77%. PulteGroup's payout ratio is 6.21%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in PulteGroup by 2.0% during the first quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. now owns 5,062 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $520,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. grew its position in PulteGroup by 43.0% during the fourth quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 349 shares of the construction company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. NDVR Inc. raised its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. NDVR Inc. now owns 1,984 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $216,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC boosted its position in shares of PulteGroup by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 1,271 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $138,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 10,113 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,117,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.90% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on PHM shares. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $151.00 to $141.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wedbush reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of PulteGroup in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on PulteGroup from $161.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on PulteGroup from $116.00 to $109.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on PulteGroup from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $135.08.

PulteGroup Company Profile

PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names.