Quilter Plc Sells 9,865 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Quilter Plc lowered its stake in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG - Free Report) by 8.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 110,759 shares of the company's stock after selling 9,865 shares during the quarter. Quilter Plc owned approximately 0.06% of Ferguson worth $19,224,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Asset Dedication LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in shares of Ferguson by 1,350.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 145 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the fourth quarter valued at about $35,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company's stock.

Ferguson Price Performance

Shares of FERG stock traded up $2.86 during trading on Thursday, hitting $183.70. The company had a trading volume of 943,928 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,434,928. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.24. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $180.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $195.39. Ferguson plc has a one year low of $167.27 and a one year high of $225.63.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th were paid a $0.83 dividend. This is a boost from Ferguson's previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 20th. Ferguson's payout ratio is 39.86%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently issued reports on FERG. Zelman & Associates downgraded Ferguson from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Berenberg Bank boosted their price target on Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Ferguson from $215.00 to $205.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on Ferguson in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $234.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Ferguson from $221.00 to $189.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $217.73.

Ferguson Company 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.