Sabal Trust CO Takes Position in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Sabal Trust CO acquired a new position in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 7,849 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,362,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of FERG. AMF Tjanstepension AB acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,523,000. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in Ferguson by 55.0% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 7,404 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,470,000 after purchasing an additional 2,628 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Ferguson during the third quarter worth $28,390,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 13.4% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 8,764 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,740,000 after purchasing an additional 1,033 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arkadios Wealth Advisors bought a new position in shares of Ferguson in the third quarter valued at about $396,000. 81.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ferguson Price Performance

FERG opened at $174.47 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $34.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.95, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68. Ferguson plc has a fifty-two week low of $167.27 and a fifty-two week high of $225.63. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $178.15 and a 200 day moving average of $193.70.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th were given a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 20th. This is a positive change from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.90%. Ferguson’s payout ratio is presently 39.86%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on FERG shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Ferguson from $215.00 to $205.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Bank of America raised Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $185.00 to $225.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Ferguson from $234.00 to $211.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Zelman & Associates downgraded Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their price target 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. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ferguson currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.