Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) Shares Sold by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG cut its holdings in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 21.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,019 shares of the company’s stock after selling 7,184 shares during the quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $4,690,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of FERG. Partners in Financial Planning purchased a new position in Ferguson in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,140,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 2,552.8% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 25,122 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,321,000 after purchasing an additional 24,175 shares during the last quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in Ferguson by 2,384.2% during the fourth quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,071,575 shares of the company’s stock worth $185,993,000 after buying an additional 1,028,440 shares in the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group purchased a new stake in Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at $239,539,000. Finally, Allstate Corp purchased a new stake in Ferguson in the 4th quarter valued at $1,039,000. 81.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ferguson Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ FERG opened at $160.37 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.07 billion, a PE ratio of 19.25, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.28. Ferguson plc has a twelve month low of $152.52 and a twelve month high of $225.63. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $173.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $187.49.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 11th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.58 by ($0.06). Ferguson had a return on equity of 34.63% and a net margin of 5.68%. The business had revenue of $6.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.74 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Ferguson plc will post 9.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Ferguson Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 21st will be given a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 21st. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.07%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio is presently 40.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $189.00 price target on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Ferguson from $205.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 12th. Zelman & Associates cut shares of Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Ferguson from $189.00 to $168.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. Finally, Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $200.67.

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.