Weitz Investment Management Inc. Sells 150 Shares of Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Weitz Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 0.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 191,400 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 150 shares during the quarter. Vulcan Materials accounts for 2.5% of Weitz Investment Management Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Weitz Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 0.14% of Vulcan Materials worth $49,234,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in VMC. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new stake in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 138.5% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 186 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Vulcan Materials by 30.0% during the 4th quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 208 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 1.7 %

VMC stock opened at $237.26 on Wednesday. Vulcan Materials has a 1-year low of $215.08 and a 1-year high of $298.31. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $252.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $260.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.38 billion, a PE ratio of 34.64, a PEG ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.80.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 18th. The construction company reported $2.17 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.81 billion. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 12.30% and a return on equity of 12.83%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 8.69 EPS for the current year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VMC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $301.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Raymond James decreased their price objective on Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $295.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Vulcan Materials from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $287.00 price target for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $305.58.

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.