Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership Has $22.18 Million Stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lessened its position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 2.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 86,215 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 2,558 shares during the quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned about 0.07% of Vulcan Materials worth $22,177,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of VMC. Allianz SE acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,572,000. Valley Forge Investment Consultants Inc. ADV acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at $367,000. Allstate Corp bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at $993,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in Vulcan Materials by 15.2% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 157,584 shares of the construction company's stock worth $40,535,000 after purchasing an additional 20,847 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DnB Asset Management AS grew its position in Vulcan Materials by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. DnB Asset Management AS now owns 26,086 shares of the construction company's stock worth $6,710,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

NYSE:VMC traded down $3.22 on Tuesday, reaching $225.32. The stock had a trading volume of 2,298,614 shares, compared to its average volume of 905,650. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The company has a market capitalization of $29.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. Vulcan Materials has a 1-year low of $215.08 and a 1-year high of $298.31. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $247.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $260.01.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials's dividend payout ratio is presently 28.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VMC has been the subject of several research reports. Loop Capital reduced their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Vulcan Materials from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $290.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 19th. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Vulcan Materials to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $298.00.

Vulcan Materials Profile

Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The company provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities.