Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Buys 1,247 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 34,138 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,247 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $6,778,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kennedy Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Ferguson during the first quarter worth about $216,000. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the first quarter worth about $3,469,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 33.2% in the first quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 3,966 shares of the company’s stock worth $866,000 after buying an additional 989 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 0.8% in the first quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 327,111 shares of the company’s stock worth $71,451,000 after buying an additional 2,703 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 18.3% in the first quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 7,295 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,593,000 after buying an additional 1,126 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Trading Up 3.4 %

FERG stock opened at $216.04 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $43.37 billion, a PE ratio of 21.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.20. Ferguson plc has a one year low of $166.21 and a one year high of $225.63. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $201.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $202.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.80.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 17th. The company reported $2.98 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $7.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.01 billion. Ferguson had a net margin of 5.85% and a return on equity of 36.53%. The business’s revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.77 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Ferguson plc will post 9.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ferguson Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 27th were paid a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 27th. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.05%.

Insider Transactions at Ferguson

In other news, SVP Garland Williams sold 1,118 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.22, for a total value of $224,963.96. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,882 shares in the company, valued at approximately $378,696.04. This trade represents a 37.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Michael Jacobs sold 2,624 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.96, for a total transaction of $527,319.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,116 shares in the company, valued at $224,271.36. This represents a 70.16 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 12,313 shares of company stock worth $2,477,901. Insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on FERG shares. Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of Ferguson in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Ferguson from $228.00 to $236.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Ferguson from $229.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Ferguson from $225.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Ferguson from $225.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ferguson presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $233.38.

Ferguson Company 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.