Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) Shares Sold by Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co

Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co decreased its stake in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 22.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 13,906 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,919 shares during the period. Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Co’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $2,414,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of FERG. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 6,390 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,109,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Ferguson by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 23,834 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,137,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 3,496 shares of the company’s stock worth $610,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Ferguson by 41.1% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 3,001 shares of the company’s stock worth $521,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed 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 price target on shares of Ferguson from $205.00 to $180.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. Oppenheimer cut their price objective on Ferguson from $234.00 to $189.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. Wolfe Research started coverage on Ferguson in a research note on Monday, March 17th. They set a “peer perform” rating on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $190.00 target price on Ferguson and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $200.67.

Ferguson Stock Performance

Shares of FERG opened at $160.63 on Friday. Ferguson plc has a 52-week low of $152.52 and a 52-week high of $225.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The firm has a market cap of $32.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.28, a PEG ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.28. The business’s 50 day moving average is $173.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $187.70.

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

Ferguson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Friday, March 21st will be paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 21st. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.07%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.84%.

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.