Franklin Resources Inc. Grows Stock Position in UFP Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:UFPI)

Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in UFP Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:UFPI - Free Report) by 5.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,287,833 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 61,861 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 2.12% of UFP Industries worth $145,074,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UFP Industries by 1,683.3% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 535 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 505 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its holdings in UFP Industries by 357.8% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 531 shares of the construction company's stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of UFP Industries by 39.8% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 615 shares of the construction company's stock worth $69,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of UFP Industries during the fourth quarter valued at about $106,000. Finally, Millburn Ridgefield Corp acquired a new position in shares of UFP Industries during the third quarter valued at about $140,000. 81.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Remove Ads

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on UFPI shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of UFP Industries from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of UFP Industries in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, UFP Industries presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $143.00.

UFP Industries Price Performance

UFPI stock traded down $1.94 during trading on Monday, hitting $104.50. The stock had a trading volume of 399,795 shares, compared to its average volume of 312,824. UFP Industries, Inc. has a twelve month low of $100.58 and a twelve month high of $141.33. The company's 50-day moving average price is $110.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $120.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 4.88 and a quick ratio of 3.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.42 and a beta of 1.45.

UFP Industries (NASDAQ:UFPI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 17th. The construction company reported $1.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.24 by ($0.04). UFP Industries had a return on equity of 13.24% and a net margin of 6.23%. The firm had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.43 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that UFP Industries, Inc. will post 7.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UFP Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a $0.35 dividend. This is an increase from UFP Industries's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. UFP Industries's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.68%.

UFP Industries Profile

UFP Industries, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets wood and non-wood composites, and other materials in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through Retail, Packaging, and Construction segments. The Retail segment offers treated lumber products, including decking, fencing, lattice, and other products; pressure-treated and fire-retardant products used primarily for outdoor decking environments; and lawn and garden products, consisting of wood and vinyl fencing options, garden beds and planters, pergolas, picnic tables, and other landscaping products.