Simmons Bank Cuts Stock Holdings in Vulcan Materials Company $VMC

Simmons Bank decreased its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) by 16.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,900 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 367 shares during the period. Simmons Bank’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $496,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 26.2% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 19,938 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $5,308,000 after purchasing an additional 4,140 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. boosted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 3,870 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $903,000 after purchasing an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co boosted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,625 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $424,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Atika Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,120,000. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP acquired a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 1st quarter worth approximately $546,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Vulcan Materials Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VMC opened at $284.45 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Vulcan Materials Company has a 12 month low of $215.08 and a 12 month high of $311.74. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $296.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $278.61. The stock has a market cap of $37.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.73, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.92.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The construction company reported $2.84 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.72 by $0.12. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.52% and a return on equity of 12.81%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.22 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 25th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th will be paid a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 10th. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is currently 23.28%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP David P. Clement sold 698 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $298.56, for a total value of $208,394.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 2,832 shares in the company, valued at $845,521.92. The trade was a 19.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VMC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $356.00 to $342.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $305.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $327.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Monday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $315.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $317.58.

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.