Amundi Raises Holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Amundi boosted its stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 22.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 481,694 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 88,046 shares during the period. Amundi owned about 0.36% of Vulcan Materials worth $122,967,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VMC. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 11,507 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $2,960,000 after purchasing an additional 1,253 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth approximately $875,000. Machina Capital S.A.S. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 170.1% in the fourth quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. now owns 3,403 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $875,000 after buying an additional 2,143 shares during the last quarter. AMG National Trust Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $213,000. Finally, Callan Family Office LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth approximately $536,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Stephens reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. 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. Finally, Raymond James decreased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vulcan Materials currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $303.08.

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Vulcan Materials Price Performance

NYSE:VMC traded up $6.66 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $231.70. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,241,167 shares, compared to its average volume of 993,365. The business's 50-day moving average is $258.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $260.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83. The company has a market capitalization of $30.61 billion, a PE ratio of 33.82, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. Vulcan Materials has a 52-week low of $215.08 and a 52-week high of $298.31.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.85%. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials's payout ratio is presently 28.61%.

Vulcan Materials Company 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.