Analysts Set Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) PT at $305.58

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the thirteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, ten have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $305.58.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on VMC shares. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Monday, March 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Vulcan Materials from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $290.00 to $285.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Raymond James cut their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $325.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th.

Vulcan Materials Stock Down 2.6 %

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $230.98 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.72, a P/E/G 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. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $250.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $260.62. Vulcan Materials has a 52-week low of $215.08 and a 52-week high of $298.31.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last posted 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. 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 the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.61%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vulcan Materials

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VMC. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda purchased a new position in Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.