Kentucky Retirement Systems Sells 125 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Kentucky Retirement Systems reduced its position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 1.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,075 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 125 shares during the quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $2,334,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Concord Wealth Partners bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 113 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in Vulcan Materials by 138.5% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Trading Down 2.3 %

VMC stock opened at $252.68 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $33.37 billion, a PE ratio of 36.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.84. Vulcan Materials has a one year low of $225.36 and a one year high of $298.31. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $266.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $261.41. 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 (NYSE:VMC) last issued 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 net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 12.83%. The company 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 firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is presently 26.86%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on VMC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $245.00 to $290.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $305.00.

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.