Equitable Trust Co. Boosts Stock Position in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Equitable Trust Co. boosted its holdings in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 4.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,250 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 471 shares during the quarter. Equitable Trust Co.’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $2,126,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Asset Dedication LLC acquired a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter valued at $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its stake in Ferguson by 1,350.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 145 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Ferguson in the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter valued at $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of Ferguson stock opened at $180.91 on Tuesday. Ferguson plc has a 12-month low of $167.27 and a 12-month high of $225.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The stock has a market cap of $36.17 billion, a PE ratio of 19.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a 50-day moving average of $183.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $195.83.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 20th were paid a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.84%. This is a boost from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 20th. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on FERG shares. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Ferguson from $221.00 to $189.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $193.00 price objective (down previously from $230.00) on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Zelman & Associates downgraded shares of Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 target price for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $204.00 price objective for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price 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.