PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) Hits New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $100.35 and last traded at $102.91, with a volume of 1037045 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $105.34.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on PHM. Oppenheimer reduced their target price on PulteGroup from $165.00 to $150.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Barclays decreased their price objective on PulteGroup from $125.00 to $117.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group increased their target price on PulteGroup from $148.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $140.00 to $124.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of PulteGroup from $135.00 to $134.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, PulteGroup has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $140.86.

PulteGroup Stock Up 0.3 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $21.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $108.48 and a 200 day moving average of $122.01.

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PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The construction company reported $3.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.22. PulteGroup had a net margin of 17.18% and a return on equity of 24.43%. On average, research analysts anticipate that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 12.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PulteGroup Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. PulteGroup's payout ratio is currently 5.98%.

PulteGroup declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, January 30th that permits the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the construction company to purchase up to 6.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at PulteGroup

In other news, Director Brian P. Anderson sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.45, for a total transaction of $266,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 56,617 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,026,879.65. This represents a 4.23 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Todd N. Sheldon sold 15,191 shares of PulteGroup stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.50, for a total value of $1,617,841.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 74,758 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,961,727. This trade represents a 16.89 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,191 shares of company stock valued at $2,256,367. Company insiders own 0.83% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of PulteGroup

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. 111 Capital bought a new stake in PulteGroup during the 4th quarter valued at $240,000. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 125,174 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $13,631,000 after purchasing an additional 1,579 shares in the last quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH raised its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 99.4% during the 4th quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 4,591 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $500,000 after purchasing an additional 2,289 shares during the period. Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in PulteGroup during the 4th quarter worth about $168,000. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in PulteGroup in the 4th quarter worth about $16,223,000. Institutional investors own 89.90% of the company's stock.

PulteGroup Company Profile

PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names.