Clearbridge Investments LLC Cuts Stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Clearbridge Investments LLC lowered its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,883,287 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 62,081 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC owned approximately 2.17% of Vulcan Materials worth $654,535,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in VMC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 47.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,503,484 shares of the construction company's stock worth $909,794,000 after acquiring an additional 1,447,700 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,410,854 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,001,308,000 after purchasing an additional 66,634 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,042,842 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $614,715,000 after purchasing an additional 194,337 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,481,652 shares of the construction company's stock worth $501,343,000 after buying an additional 54,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,314,301 shares of the construction company's stock worth $467,535,000 after buying an additional 83,185 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Vulcan Materials Trading Up 0.7 %

VMC stock traded up $1.92 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $262.13. The stock had a trading volume of 1,526,645 shares, compared to its average volume of 779,886. The firm has a market cap of $34.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.27, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.83. Vulcan Materials has a twelve month low of $190.51 and a twelve month high of $276.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 2.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $265.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $242.34.

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

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 24th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 23rd. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.86%.

Insider Transactions at Vulcan Materials

In related news, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 6,610 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $272.64, for a total value of $1,802,150.40. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 4,784 shares in the company, valued at $1,304,309.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, President Thompson S. Baker II sold 6,610 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $272.64, for a total transaction of $1,802,150.40. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 4,784 shares in the company, valued at $1,304,309.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Denson N. Franklin III sold 3,200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $269.48, for a total value of $862,336.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,395 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,453,844.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 28,227 shares of company stock worth $7,494,261 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on VMC. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $319.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $225.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 2nd. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $263.00 to $322.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $270.00 target price (up from $245.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Friday, March 22nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.