Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) Shares Purchased by Anchor Capital Advisors LLC

Anchor Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 18.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 188,456 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 29,304 shares during the period. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $32,710,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in Ferguson by 1,350.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 145 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 906.7% in the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Ferguson during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Ferguson during the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in Ferguson during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Stock Down 0.5 %

Ferguson stock opened at $175.21 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $35.03 billion, a PE ratio of 21.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $178.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $193.45. Ferguson plc has a 1-year low of $167.27 and a 1-year high of $225.63.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 20th were given a dividend of $0.83 per share. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 20th. This is a positive change from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on FERG. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Ferguson from $234.00 to $211.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $193.00 target price (down from $230.00) on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $204.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Ferguson from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Ferguson from $215.00 to $205.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. 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, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target 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.