Caprock Group LLC Buys 94 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Caprock Group LLC grew its stake in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,496 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the quarter. Caprock Group LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $610,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of FERG. Asset Dedication LLC bought a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter worth about $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ferguson by 1,350.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 145 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $40,000. 81.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ferguson Stock Performance

NASDAQ:FERG opened at $179.51 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $185.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $196.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.89 billion, a PE ratio of 21.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.24. Ferguson plc has a 52-week low of $167.27 and a 52-week high of $225.63.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. This is a boost from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.85%. Ferguson’s payout ratio is 39.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on FERG. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Monday. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $204.00 price target for the company. Berenberg Bank raised their target price on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Ferguson from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Bank of America raised Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $185.00 to $225.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $193.00 price target (down from $230.00) on shares of Ferguson in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $217.73.

Ferguson 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.