Handelsbanken Fonder AB Has $19.98 Million Stock Position in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB lowered its stake in Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) by 8.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 88,010 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 8,151 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned approximately 0.07% of Vulcan Materials worth $19,979,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. CVA Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vulcan Materials during the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 273.4% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 295 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 48.9% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 326 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.39% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Vulcan Materials

In related news, Director Melissa H. Anderson sold 1,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.48, for a total value of $312,576.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 330 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $85,958.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Vulcan Materials news, Director Melissa H. Anderson sold 1,200 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.48, for a total value of $312,576.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $85,958.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Stanley G. Bass sold 8,310 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.68, for a total transaction of $2,091,460.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 29,311 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,376,992.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 13,017 shares of company stock valued at $3,344,741 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.61% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wolfe Research lowered shares of Vulcan Materials from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up previously from $245.00) on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $264.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research report on Monday, January 8th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $298.00 to $319.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vulcan Materials has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $273.00.

Vulcan Materials Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:VMC opened at $254.40 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $33.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.45, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 3.17 and a quick ratio of 2.39. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $263.66 and a 200 day simple moving average of $233.72. Vulcan Materials has a one year low of $166.43 and a one year high of $276.58.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 16th. The construction company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.83 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. Vulcan Materials had a net margin of 11.99% and a return on equity of 12.80%. The firm’s revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.08 EPS. Research analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 8.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, March 4th were paid a $0.46 dividend. This is an increase from Vulcan Materials’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 1st. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.72%. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.36%.

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.