Morgan Stanley Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Stock Price

Key Points

• Morgan Stanley has cut its price target for Vulcan Materials from $303 to $285, indicating a potential upside of only 3.68% from the current stock price.
• Despite a mixed outlook, several analysts have issued ratings, with ten analysts giving a buy rating and a consensus target price of $301.27.
• Vulcan Materials reported earnings of $1.00 per share, exceeding expectations, alongside a quarterly revenue increase of 5.8% year-over-year.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from $303.00 to $285.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an "equal weight" rating on the construction company's stock. Morgan Stanley's target price points to a potential upside of 3.68% from the stock's previous close.

VMC has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Loop Capital lowered their price target on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Raymond James Financial lowered their price target on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $295.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Argus raised shares of Vulcan Materials to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the company from $280.00 to $318.00 in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $287.00 to $309.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $301.27.

Vulcan Materials Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of VMC stock opened at $274.90 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 2.42. Vulcan Materials has a 52-week low of $215.08 and a 52-week high of $298.31. The company has a market capitalization of $36.31 billion, a PE ratio of 38.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.82. The business's fifty day moving average is $265.20 and its 200 day moving average is $257.04.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The construction company reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.20. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.50% and a return on equity of 12.91%. The company had revenue of $1.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.80 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Vulcan Materials

In other news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the senior vice president directly owned 2,832 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $764,640. This trade represents a 34.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Vulcan Materials

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. NorthRock Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 1,592 shares of the construction company's stock worth $415,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,782 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,247,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. raised its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 15.7% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,929 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,025,000 after purchasing an additional 532 shares during the last quarter. Concord Wealth Partners purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 22.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,600 shares of the construction company's stock worth $678,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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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