Panagora Asset Management Inc. Purchases 88,476 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 1,045.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 96,937 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 88,476 shares during the quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. owned 0.07% of Vulcan Materials worth $22,006,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Avalon Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter worth $58,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 1,447.1% in the fourth quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 263 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 246 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at about $61,000. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth about $62,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

NYSE VMC traded down $0.90 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $259.10. The company had a trading volume of 498,292 shares, compared to its average volume of 724,340. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 2.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.82, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.83. Vulcan Materials has a 52 week low of $190.51 and a 52 week high of $276.58. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $265.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of $241.32.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The construction company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.91 by ($0.11). The firm had revenue of $1.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 11.92% and a return on equity of 12.32%. Vulcan Materials's revenue was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.95 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Vulcan Materials will post 8.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Investors of record on Friday, May 24th will be given a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.71%. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.86%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vulcan Materials news, VP Randy L. Pigg sold 307 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $255.27, for a total value of $78,367.89. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $483,991.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Vulcan Materials news, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 6,610 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.64, for a total transaction of $1,802,150.40. Following the sale, the president now owns 4,784 shares in the company, valued at $1,304,309.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Randy L. Pigg sold 307 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.27, for a total value of $78,367.89. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,896 shares in the company, valued at $483,991.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 28,227 shares of company stock worth $7,494,261. Corporate insiders own 0.62% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VMC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $270.00 target price (up previously from $245.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Citigroup upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $263.00 to $322.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Vulcan Materials from $264.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Stephens increased their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered shares of Vulcan Materials from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Friday, March 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $277.08.

Vulcan Materials 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.