Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) Position Decreased by Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund

Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund cut its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) by 57.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,805 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 18,915 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $1,749,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 307,293 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $38,457,000 after buying an additional 3,598 shares during the period. Teachers Advisors LLC increased its stake in Vulcan Materials by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC now owns 148,379 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $18,570,000 after buying an additional 7,178 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at $1,202,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at $536,000. Finally, Highbridge Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Vulcan Materials during the fourth quarter valued at $3,129,000. 85.60% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) opened at 118.39 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.68 billion, a PE ratio of 38.12 and a beta of 0.93. The company’s 50-day moving average is $126.55 and its 200 day moving average is $124.11. Vulcan Materials Company has a 12-month low of $105.71 and a 12-month high of $138.18.

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The construction company reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.32. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 8.72% and a net margin of 11.28%. The business had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.90 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Vulcan Materials Company will post $3.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 21st. Vulcan Materials’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.36%.

VMC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Vulcan Materials from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Citigroup Inc. reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Vulcan Materials in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, June 9th. BidaskClub upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, June 10th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $154.00 price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials in a report on Monday, June 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $139.67.

In related news, VP Ejaz A. Khan sold 2,024 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.30, for a total transaction of $253,607.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Jerry F. Perkins, Jr. sold 306 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.00, for a total transaction of $40,392.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 5,292 shares in the company, valued at $698,544. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 6,743 shares of company stock worth $876,515 over the last three months. 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Vulcan Materials Company Profile

Vulcan Materials Company is a supplier of construction aggregates (primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel) and a producer of asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete. The Company operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt Mix, Concrete and Calcium. The Aggregates segment produces and sells aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates) and related products and services (transportation and other).