Aviva PLC Boosts Position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Aviva PLC raised its stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 1,469.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 79,523 shares of the construction company's stock after buying an additional 74,455 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC owned about 0.06% of Vulcan Materials worth $20,456,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VMC. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at $9,816,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 440,367 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $113,276,000 after buying an additional 3,992 shares during the last quarter. Westpac Banking Corp acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth $111,000. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,327 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $334,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,488 shares of the construction company's stock worth $640,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 2.8 %

Shares of NYSE VMC traded up $6.71 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $242.29. The stock had a trading volume of 1,636,343 shares, compared to its average volume of 922,540. Vulcan Materials has a 52 week low of $215.08 and a 52 week high of $298.31. The company has a market capitalization of $32.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. 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 firm's 50-day moving average price is $244.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $259.69.

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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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 quarter last year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.81%. Vulcan Materials's payout ratio is 28.61%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on VMC. 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 report on Monday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $290.00 to $285.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 19th. UBS Group lowered Vulcan Materials from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $343.00 to $258.00 in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Loop Capital dropped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $298.00.

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.