Sciencast Management LP Takes Position in PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM)

Sciencast Management LP acquired a new stake in PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 11,194 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $1,219,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in PulteGroup by 6.3% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 19,524 shares of the construction company's stock worth $2,803,000 after purchasing an additional 1,160 shares in the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in PulteGroup during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $788,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 36,152 shares of the construction company's stock worth $5,189,000 after buying an additional 2,067 shares in the last quarter. Commerce Bank lifted its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 25,687 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $3,687,000 after buying an additional 1,116 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 29.1% in the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,660 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $669,000 after buying an additional 1,050 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.90% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Todd N. Sheldon sold 15,191 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.50, for a total transaction of $1,617,841.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 74,758 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,961,727. This represents a 16.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Brian P. Anderson sold 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.45, for a total value of $266,125.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 56,617 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,026,879.65. The trade was a 4.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 21,191 shares of company stock worth $2,256,367. 0.83% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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PulteGroup Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PHM traded down $0.10 on Thursday, hitting $105.12. The company had a trading volume of 1,143,369 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,877,563. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company has a market cap of $21.28 billion, a PE ratio of 7.15, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.71. PulteGroup, Inc. has a 52-week low of $100.35 and a 52-week high of $149.47. The business has a 50 day moving average of $108.12 and a 200 day moving average of $121.71.

PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The construction company reported $3.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 12.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PulteGroup announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, January 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to repurchase up to 6.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

PulteGroup Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. PulteGroup's payout ratio is 5.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays cut their price objective on PulteGroup from $125.00 to $117.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $165.00 to $150.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of PulteGroup from $135.00 to $134.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 27th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $146.00 to $119.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of PulteGroup from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $140.86.

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.