Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. Reduces Position in Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE:EXP)

Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. decreased its holdings in shares of Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE:EXP - Free Report) by 24.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 107,390 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 35,530 shares during the period. Eagle Materials accounts for about 1.9% of Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd.'s portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. owned 0.32% of Eagle Materials worth $26,500,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in shares of Eagle Materials by 53.0% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 205 shares of the construction company's stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in Eagle Materials in the third quarter worth $64,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Eagle Materials in the fourth quarter valued at $81,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Eagle Materials by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 569 shares of the construction company's stock worth $140,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Eagle Materials by 10.6% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 676 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $167,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.07% of the company's stock.

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Eagle Materials Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:EXP traded down $2.15 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $209.30. 428,231 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 359,709. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $243.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $268.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.95 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 2.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Eagle Materials Inc. has a 12 month low of $205.44 and a 12 month high of $321.93.

Eagle Materials (NYSE:EXP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The construction company reported $3.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.97 by ($0.38). Eagle Materials had a return on equity of 34.14% and a net margin of 20.91%. On average, equities analysts expect that Eagle Materials Inc. will post 14.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Eagle Materials Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 14th. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. Eagle Materials's dividend payout ratio is 7.14%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Michael R. Nicolais bought 310 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $257.36 per share, for a total transaction of $79,781.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,655 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $940,650.80. The trade was a 9.27 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on EXP shares. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of Eagle Materials in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $242.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Eagle Materials from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $310.00 target price on shares of Eagle Materials in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. DA Davidson reduced their price target on shares of Eagle Materials from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Eagle Materials from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $330.00 to $310.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Eagle Materials has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $292.40.

Eagle Materials Profile

Eagle Materials Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells heavy construction materials and light building materials in the United States. It operates in four segments: Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Gypsum Wallboard, and Recycled Paperboard. The company engages in the mining of limestone for the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of Portland cement, including Portland limestone cement; grinding and sale of slag; and mining of gypsum for the manufacture and sale of gypsum wallboards used to finish the interior walls and ceilings in residential, commercial, and industrial structures, as well as well as containerboard and lightweight packaging grades; manufacture and sale of recycled paperboard to the gypsum wallboard industry and other paperboard converters; the sale of readymix concrete; and mining and sale of aggregates, such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel.