JPMorgan Chase & Co. Boosts Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG) Price Target to $200.00

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG - Free Report) had its price objective lifted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $190.00 to $200.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on shares of Ferguson from $234.00 to $189.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Ferguson from $189.00 to $168.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Ferguson in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "hold" rating and a $174.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $189.00 price target on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Ferguson in a research report on Monday, March 17th. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ferguson has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $200.15.

Ferguson Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:FERG traded up $0.50 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $182.97. 75,509 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,618,844. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68. Ferguson has a 52-week low of $146.00 and a 52-week high of $225.63. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $168.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $178.41. The company has a market capitalization of $36.58 billion, a PE ratio of 21.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.14.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 11th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.58 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $6.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.76 billion. Ferguson had a return on equity of 34.63% and a net margin of 5.68%. Ferguson's revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.74 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Ferguson will post 9.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ferguson Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Friday, March 21st were paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 21st. Ferguson's payout ratio is presently 40.84%.

Institutional Trading of Ferguson

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of FERG. Manchester Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Ferguson by 906.7% during the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 247.4% in the 1st quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 198 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the period. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 166.7% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 208 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 56.5% in the 1st quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 205 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, LGT Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 106.3% in the 4th quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC now owns 198 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. 81.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Ferguson

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.