C WorldWide Group Holding A S Sells 198,001 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

C WorldWide Group Holding A S trimmed its holdings in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 43.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 254,988 shares of the company’s stock after selling 198,001 shares during the quarter. Ferguson comprises about 0.5% of C WorldWide Group Holding A S’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. C WorldWide Group Holding A S owned approximately 0.13% of Ferguson worth $44,258,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Ferguson by 32.5% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 32,025 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,359,000 after buying an additional 7,862 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new position in Ferguson in the 3rd quarter valued at about $970,000. Clean Yield Group increased its holdings in Ferguson by 27.1% in the 4th quarter. Clean Yield Group now owns 25,959 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,506,000 after buying an additional 5,534 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP increased its holdings in Ferguson by 66.2% in the 3rd quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 51,647 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,256,000 after buying an additional 20,580 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Ferguson by 79.6% in the 3rd quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 646,954 shares of the company’s stock valued at $134,217,000 after buying an additional 286,691 shares during the period. 81.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ferguson Stock Down 2.0 %

NASDAQ:FERG opened at $175.90 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $178.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $194.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 0.91. Ferguson plc has a one year low of $167.27 and a one year high of $225.63. The company has a market cap of $35.17 billion, a PE ratio of 21.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.24.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th were given a dividend of $0.83 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 20th. This is an increase from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.89%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on FERG. Bank of America raised shares of Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $185.00 to $225.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Zelman & Associates lowered shares of Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Ferguson from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised their price target on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $217.73.

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.