Kieckhefer Group LLC Makes New Investment in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Kieckhefer Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 4,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $694,000. Ferguson accounts for about 0.4% of Kieckhefer Group LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ferguson by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 3,307 shares of the company's stock valued at $657,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in Ferguson by 3.0% in the second quarter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,035 shares of the company's stock valued at $394,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Ferguson by 3.2% during the third quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,952 shares of the company's stock worth $388,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Ferguson by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 23,834 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,137,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 33.8% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 364 shares of the company's stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

FERG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Ferguson in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $234.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Ferguson from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Berenberg Bank raised their price objective on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on shares of Ferguson from $245.00 to $234.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $222.40.

Ferguson Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of FERG traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $170.30. The stock had a trading volume of 1,838,381 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,431,183. The company has a market cap of $34.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.44, a PEG ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.24. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $194.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $198.81. Ferguson plc has a 1-year low of $167.27 and a 1-year high of $225.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.00.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. This is a boost from Ferguson's previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.95%. Ferguson's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.86%.

Ferguson Profile

Ferguson plc distributes plumbing and heating products in the United States and Canada. It offers plumbing and heating solutions to customers in the residential, commercial, civil/infrastructure, and industrial end markets. The company also provides expertise, solutions, and products, including infrastructure, plumbing, appliances, fire, fabrication, and others, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products under the Ferguson brand name.