Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) Shares Sold by Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC

Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 11.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,990 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,572 shares during the quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $2,087,000 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 the company. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Ferguson by 28.8% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,960 shares of the company’s stock valued at $514,000 after buying an additional 662 shares in the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at $467,000. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ferguson during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in Ferguson by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 114,880 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,940,000 after purchasing an additional 4,617 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in Ferguson by 910.3% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 366,015 shares of the company’s stock valued at $63,529,000 after purchasing an additional 329,786 shares in the last quarter. 81.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ferguson Price Performance

Shares of FERG stock opened at $180.68 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $189.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $197.93. The firm has a market cap of $36.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.24. Ferguson plc has a 1-year low of $167.27 and a 1-year high of $225.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a $0.83 dividend. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.84%. This is an increase from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 20th. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Bank of America raised shares of Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $185.00 to $225.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Ferguson from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $220.10.

About Ferguson

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.