Diametric Capital LP bought a new position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 1,074 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $276,000.
A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 19.9% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 5,320,570 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,332,431,000 after purchasing an additional 884,580 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 13.8% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 5,766 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,444,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in Vulcan Materials by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 21,277 shares of the construction company's stock worth $5,328,000 after buying an additional 1,104 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,952,000. Finally, Ascent Group LLC increased its position in Vulcan Materials by 63.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 11,200 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $2,805,000 after acquiring an additional 4,334 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.
Vulcan Materials Trading Down 2.6 %
Shares of VMC stock traded down $6.20 on Friday, reaching $230.98. The company had a trading volume of 2,850,857 shares, compared to its average volume of 889,522. The stock has a market cap of $30.55 billion, a PE ratio of 33.72, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a 50-day moving average of $250.05 and a 200-day moving average of $260.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. Vulcan Materials has a 12 month low of $215.08 and a 12 month high of $298.31.
Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 12.83%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.
Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.61%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
VMC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $287.00 price objective on the stock. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Seaport Res Ptn raised Vulcan Materials to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $305.58.
Read Our Latest Report on VMC
About Vulcan Materials
(
Free Report)
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.
Further Reading

Before you consider Vulcan Materials, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Vulcan Materials wasn't on the list.
While Vulcan Materials currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
If a company's CEO, COO, and CFO were all selling shares of their stock, would you want to know? MarketBeat just compiled its list of the twelve stocks that corporate insiders are abandoning. Complete the form below to see which companies made the list.
Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.
Link copied to clipboard.