Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) Shares Acquired by Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund grew its holdings in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 17.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,603 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 693 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $1,184,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth about $811,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 149.4% during the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 9,393 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,416,000 after acquiring an additional 5,627 shares in the last quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth about $514,000. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth about $15,719,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 284.9% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 44,650 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $11,104,000 after acquiring an additional 33,051 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Trading Up 0.7 %

NYSE:VMC opened at $272.34 on Wednesday. Vulcan Materials has a 52-week low of $225.36 and a 52-week high of $298.31. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $267.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $261.39. The company has a quick ratio of 2.02, a current ratio of 2.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The company has a market capitalization of $35.96 billion, a PE ratio of 42.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 0.84.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.41. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 11.88% and a net margin of 11.43%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.46 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 7.16 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.72%. This is a boost from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.02%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on VMC shares. UBS Group started coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $349.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup reduced their price target on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com upgraded Vulcan Materials from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $301.18.

Vulcan Materials Company 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.