Kestra Investment Management LLC Sells 1,724 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Kestra Investment Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 50.1% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,719 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 1,724 shares during the quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $442,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of VMC. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Concord Wealth Partners bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 240.4% during the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 160 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Stock Down 2.9 %

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $264.84 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.86 and a quick ratio of 2.02. The stock has a market cap of $34.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a 50 day moving average of $267.35 and a 200-day moving average of $261.43. Vulcan Materials has a one year low of $225.36 and a one year high of $298.31.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 11.43% and a return on equity of 11.88%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 7.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.74%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.02%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays increased their target price on Vulcan Materials from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. StockNews.com raised Vulcan Materials from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $303.82.

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.