Ruffer LLP Takes Position in Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL)

Ruffer LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 22,885 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $2,882,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Toll Brothers by 1.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,662,387 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $565,802,000 after acquiring an additional 42,871 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Toll Brothers by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,157,908 shares of the construction company's stock worth $333,444,000 after buying an additional 84,652 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Toll Brothers by 97.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,118,459 shares of the construction company's stock worth $327,281,000 after buying an additional 1,046,758 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC increased its holdings in Toll Brothers by 38.7% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,226,271 shares of the construction company's stock worth $154,449,000 after buying an additional 341,980 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westfield Capital Management Co. LP bought a new stake in Toll Brothers in the 3rd quarter worth about $111,562,000. 91.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Toll Brothers Stock Performance

Shares of TOL stock traded down $0.23 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $106.60. 1,433,722 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,425,517. Toll Brothers, Inc. has a 12-month low of $105.32 and a 12-month high of $169.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 4.65 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $10.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.77. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $123.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $139.34.

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Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.99 by ($0.24). The business had revenue of $1.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.91 billion. Toll Brothers had a net margin of 14.03% and a return on equity of 18.32%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Toll Brothers, Inc. will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Toll Brothers Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Friday, April 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 11th. This is an increase from Toll Brothers's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Toll Brothers's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.33%.

Insider Activity at Toll Brothers

In related news, Director Paul E. Shapiro sold 3,837 shares of Toll Brothers stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.14, for a total transaction of $514,695.18. Following the sale, the director now owns 119,937 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,088,349.18. This trade represents a 3.10 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Christine Garvey sold 204 shares of Toll Brothers stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.78, for a total value of $25,659.12. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,728 shares in the company, valued at $972,027.84. This trade represents a 2.57 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 15,622 shares of company stock valued at $1,993,880. 1.54% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Toll Brothers from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Toll Brothers from $155.00 to $137.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Toll Brothers from $142.00 to $139.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Toll Brothers from $143.00 to $125.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Toll Brothers from $170.00 to $150.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $147.57.

Toll Brothers Profile

Toll Brothers, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, builds, markets, sells, and arranges finance for a range of detached and attached homes in luxury residential communities in the United States. It designs, builds, markets, and sells condominiums through Toll Brothers City Living. The company also develops a range of single-story living and first-floor primary bedroom suite home designs, as well as communities with recreational amenities, such as golf courses, marinas, pool complexes, country clubs, and fitness and recreation centers; and develops, operates, and rents apartments.