Waverton Investment Management Ltd Acquires 8,186 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Waverton Investment Management Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 4.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 197,134 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 8,186 shares during the quarter. Vulcan Materials makes up approximately 0.8% of Waverton Investment Management Ltd’s portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Waverton Investment Management Ltd’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $50,741,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VMC. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,082,000. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund grew its stake in Vulcan Materials by 60.0% during the fourth quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 35,163 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $9,045,000 after acquiring an additional 13,191 shares in the last quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 906 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $233,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 13.6% in the 4th quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 1,708 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $439,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at $174,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

VMC stock opened at $252.68 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $33.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.84. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $266.20 and its 200 day moving average is $261.66. Vulcan Materials has a 52 week low of $225.36 and a 52 week high of $298.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a $0.49 dividend. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VMC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays increased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Raymond James lowered their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $305.00.

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.