Simon Quick Advisors LLC Acquires 143 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Simon Quick Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 12.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,276 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $222,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of FERG. CWM LLC lifted its position in Ferguson by 303.7% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,550 shares of the company’s stock worth $904,000 after buying an additional 3,423 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Ferguson by 32.5% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 32,025 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,359,000 after acquiring an additional 7,862 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Ferguson during the third quarter worth approximately $970,000. Clean Yield Group grew its stake in shares of Ferguson by 27.1% during the fourth quarter. Clean Yield Group now owns 25,959 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,506,000 after purchasing an additional 5,534 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 66.2% in the third quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 51,647 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,256,000 after purchasing an additional 20,580 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NASDAQ:FERG opened at $180.68 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $189.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $197.82. The company has a market capitalization of $36.13 billion, a PE ratio of 21.69, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.24. Ferguson plc has a 52 week low of $167.27 and a 52 week high of $225.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.68.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on FERG shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Ferguson from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Ferguson in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America raised Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $185.00 to $225.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank raised their target price 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Ferguson from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $220.10.

Ferguson Company Profile

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.