Entropy Technologies LP Sells 651 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Entropy Technologies LP cut its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 14,292 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 651 shares during the quarter. Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $3,579,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cetera Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 118.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 4,146 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,132,000 after buying an additional 2,245 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 16.1% during the second quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 491 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 202,539 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $50,367,000 after buying an additional 5,979 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 150.1% in the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 4,006 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,093,000 after buying an additional 2,404 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 87.1% in the 1st quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 9,591 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,618,000 after buying an additional 4,466 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

NYSE:VMC opened at $292.04 on Tuesday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $251.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $253.13. Vulcan Materials has a 52 week low of $209.39 and a 52 week high of $298.31. The stock has a market cap of $38.57 billion, a PE ratio of 46.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The construction company reported $2.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.34 by ($0.12). Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 11.88% and a net margin of 11.43%. The business had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.01 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.29 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 7.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 4th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.63%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 4th. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is currently 29.02%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on VMC shares. Stephens decreased their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $250.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com raised Vulcan Materials from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. UBS Group began coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $349.00 price target for the company. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $297.00 to $292.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $280.46.

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.