Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Position Trimmed by XTX Topco Ltd

XTX Topco Ltd cut its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Free Report) by 34.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,122 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 1,102 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd's holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $546,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company's stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Vulcan Materials by 30.0% in the fourth quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 208 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company's stock.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VMC traded up $5.04 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $249.58. The company's stock had a trading volume of 661,179 shares, compared to its average volume of 925,197. The company has a market cap of $33.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. Vulcan Materials has a one year low of $215.08 and a one year high of $298.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $239.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $259.29.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.81 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%. This is a positive change from Vulcan Materials's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials's payout ratio is currently 28.61%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on VMC. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Raymond James lowered their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $273.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. UBS Group lowered Vulcan Materials from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $343.00 to $258.00 in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $293.64.

About Vulcan Materials

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.