Martingale Asset Management L P Sells 46,430 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Martingale Asset Management L P lessened its position in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 42.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 63,485 shares of the company’s stock after selling 46,430 shares during the quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $11,019,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Manchester Capital Management LLC grew its position in Ferguson by 906.7% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its position in shares of Ferguson by 92.5% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 258 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. boosted its position in shares of Ferguson by 41.1% during the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Price Performance

Shares of FERG opened at $164.22 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.83 billion, a PE ratio of 19.71, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.17. The company’s 50-day moving average is $169.05 and its 200-day moving average is $184.94. Ferguson plc has a fifty-two week low of $146.00 and a fifty-two week 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 (NASDAQ:FERG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 11th. The company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.58 by ($0.06). Ferguson had a net margin of 5.68% and a return on equity of 34.63%. The business had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.74 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Ferguson plc will post 9.4 EPS for the current year.

Ferguson Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Friday, March 21st will be paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 21st. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.02%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.84%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Zelman & Associates downgraded shares of Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group reissued 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. Berenberg Bank lifted their price target on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Ferguson in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a “hold” rating and a $174.00 price target for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $190.00 price target on shares of Ferguson and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $198.62.

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.