Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Earns Buy (B-) Rating from Weiss Ratings

Key Points

• Vulcan Materials has been given a "buy (B-)" rating by Weiss Ratings, reflecting positive sentiment from analysts regarding the company's stock performance.
• The stock is currently priced at $304.45, with a fifty-two week high of $309.17 and a projected consensus price target of $308.58 among analysts.
• Institutional investors hold a significant stake, owning 90.39% of Vulcan Materials' stock, indicating strong confidence from major financial firms in the company.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "buy (b-)" rating reiterated by investment analysts at Weiss Ratings in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Weiss Ratings reports.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on VMC. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research report on Tuesday. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $311.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $286.00 to $279.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Barclays raised their target price on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $303.00 to $285.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Vulcan Materials from $285.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $308.58.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of VMC stock traded up $3.55 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $304.45. 269,469 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 996,260. Vulcan Materials has a fifty-two week low of $215.08 and a fifty-two week high of $309.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.92. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $292.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $269.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The construction company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.65 by ($0.20). Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.81% and a net margin of 12.52%.The business had revenue of $2.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.35 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vulcan Materials news, SVP David P. Clement sold 698 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.56, for a total value of $208,394.88. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 2,832 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $845,521.92. The trade was a 19.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vulcan Materials

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wedmont Private Capital lifted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 6.0% during the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 1,732 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $521,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the period. Czech National Bank lifted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 3.9% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 33,557 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $10,323,000 after acquiring an additional 1,267 shares during the period. Lbmc Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter valued at $461,000. Moody National Bank Trust Division lifted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 2.0% during the third quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 2,765 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $851,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the period. Finally, Strathmore Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter valued at $229,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

About Vulcan Materials

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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