V Square Quantitative Management LLC Has $660,000 Stake in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 28.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,801 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 833 shares during the quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $660,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in shares of Ferguson by 1,350.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 145 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Ferguson in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on FERG. Berenberg Bank lifted their price target on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $193.00 price target (down previously from $230.00) on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Zelman & Associates downgraded shares of Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Oppenheimer began coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 price target for the company. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Ferguson from $234.00 to $211.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $217.73.

Ferguson Price Performance

FERG opened at $184.29 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $36.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.24. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $180.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $194.99. Ferguson plc has a 1 year low of $167.27 and a 1 year high of $225.63.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 20th were paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.80%. This is a boost from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 20th. Ferguson’s payout ratio is presently 39.86%.

About Ferguson

Ferguson plc distributes plumbing and heating products in the United States and Canada. It offers plumbing and heating solutions to customers in the residential, commercial, civil/infrastructure, and industrial end markets. The company also provides expertise, solutions, and products, including infrastructure, plumbing, appliances, fire, fabrication, and others, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products under the Ferguson brand name.