Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV Reduces Stock Holdings in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV decreased its holdings in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG - Free Report) by 5.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 121,362 shares of the company's stock after selling 7,440 shares during the period. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV owned about 0.06% of Ferguson worth $21,255,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Manchester Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Ferguson by 906.7% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in 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 acquiring an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in Ferguson by 92.5% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 258 shares of the company's stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.98% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

FERG has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $189.00 price objective on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Ferguson in a report on Monday, March 17th. They issued a "peer perform" rating for the company. Zelman & Associates downgraded Ferguson from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Ferguson in a report on Monday, February 3rd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $204.00 price target for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $190.00 price objective on Ferguson and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $199.38.

Ferguson Price Performance

Ferguson stock traded up $2.83 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $184.54. 1,716,944 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,616,847. The company has a market capitalization of $36.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.14. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $165.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is $179.62. Ferguson plc has a 1 year low of $146.00 and a 1 year high of $225.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 11th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.58 by ($0.06). Ferguson had a return on equity of 34.63% and a net margin of 5.68%. The business had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.74 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Ferguson plc will post 9.4 EPS for the current year.

Ferguson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 21st were paid a $0.83 dividend. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 21st. Ferguson's dividend payout ratio is currently 40.84%.

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.