B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG Cuts Stake in UFP Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:UFPI)

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG decreased its position in UFP Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:UFPI) by 17.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,022 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 2,658 shares during the period. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG’s holdings in UFP Industries were worth $1,467,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UFPI. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of UFP Industries during the 4th quarter worth approximately $83,149,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its holdings in shares of UFP Industries by 3,820.8% in the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 561,142 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $63,212,000 after acquiring an additional 546,830 shares during the period. Boston Partners increased its stake in UFP Industries by 100.8% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 672,231 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $75,736,000 after purchasing an additional 337,463 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in UFP Industries during the fourth quarter worth $30,457,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in UFP Industries by 18.2% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,225,972 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $169,675,000 after purchasing an additional 188,969 shares in the last quarter. 81.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UFP Industries Stock Up 2.3 %

UFPI opened at $109.10 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $6.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.12 and a beta of 1.45. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $110.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $120.91. UFP Industries, Inc. has a 52 week low of $102.35 and a 52 week high of $141.33. The company has a quick ratio of 3.25, a current ratio of 4.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07.

UFP Industries (NASDAQ:UFPI) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 17th. The construction company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.24 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.43 billion. UFP Industries had a return on equity of 13.24% and a net margin of 6.23%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that UFP Industries, Inc. will post 7.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UFP Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This is an increase from UFP Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.28%. UFP Industries’s payout ratio is 20.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UFPI. StockNews.com cut UFP Industries from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of UFP Industries in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UFP Industries currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $143.00.

UFP Industries Company Profile

UFP Industries, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets wood and non-wood composites, and other materials in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through Retail, Packaging, and Construction segments. The Retail segment offers treated lumber products, including decking, fencing, lattice, and other products; pressure-treated and fire-retardant products used primarily for outdoor decking environments; and lawn and garden products, consisting of wood and vinyl fencing options, garden beds and planters, pergolas, picnic tables, and other landscaping products.