Advisors Asset Management Inc. Sells 1,610 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Advisors Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 4.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,882 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 1,610 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $8,715,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 138.5% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 30.0% during the 4th quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 208 shares of the construction company's stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth $57,000. Finally, Prospera Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth about $61,000. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VMC traded down $4.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $234.55. The company had a trading volume of 2,063,049 shares, compared to its average volume of 822,809. The firm has a market cap of $30.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.24, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 2.02. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $215.08 and a 12 month high of $298.31. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $256.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is $260.42.

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Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last issued its 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 company had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors 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 presently 28.61%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target 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. Citigroup dropped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.