Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Shares Bought by Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Mizuho Securities USA LLC increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 46.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,516 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,953 shares during the quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $3,219,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 3rd quarter worth about $811,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 149.4% during the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 9,393 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,416,000 after buying an additional 5,627 shares in the last quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $514,000. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $15,719,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 284.9% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 44,650 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $11,104,000 after buying an additional 33,051 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Trading Down 1.7 %

VMC opened at $234.55 on Monday. Vulcan Materials has a one year low of $215.08 and a one year high of $298.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.99 billion, a PE ratio of 34.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $256.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $260.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.84%. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is 28.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on VMC shares. Raymond James cut their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $287.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 price target on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vulcan Materials currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $302.67.

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.