Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Stock Position Cut by DF Dent & Co. Inc.

DF Dent & Co. Inc. decreased its position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 2.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 964,390 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 20,171 shares during the period. Vulcan Materials comprises 3.1% of DF Dent & Co. Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest position. DF Dent & Co. Inc. owned approximately 0.73% of Vulcan Materials worth $248,070,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 108 shares during the period. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 30.0% during the fourth quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 208 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

Shares of VMC stock opened at $240.16 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 2.02. The company has a market capitalization of $31.77 billion, a PE ratio of 35.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $251.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $260.64. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $212.94 and a 12 month high of $298.31.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 12.83%. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. Analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.82%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is 28.61%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VMC has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Loop Capital lowered their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Vulcan Materials to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $305.58.

About Vulcan Materials

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.