Candriam S.C.A. Has $2.41 Million Holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Candriam S.C.A. cut its holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 41.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 9,386 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 6,608 shares during the quarter. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $2,414,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VMC. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 240.4% in the third quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 160 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the period. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VMC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $287.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $269.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Raymond James lowered their target price on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $303.08.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of VMC opened at $221.47 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $261.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $261.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a current ratio of 1.83. Vulcan Materials has a 52-week low of $218.71 and a 52-week high of $298.31.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.83% and a net margin of 12.30%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be issued a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.61%.

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.