Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twelve analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $217.73.

Several brokerages have commented on FERG. Bank of America upgraded shares of Ferguson from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $185.00 to $225.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $204.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Ferguson from $215.00 to $205.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Zelman & Associates cut shares of Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Ferguson from $234.00 to $211.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ferguson

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC increased its holdings in Ferguson by 303.7% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,550 shares of the company’s stock worth $904,000 after acquiring an additional 3,423 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 32.5% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 32,025 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,359,000 after buying an additional 7,862 shares in the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the third quarter worth $970,000. Clean Yield Group grew its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 27.1% during the fourth quarter. Clean Yield Group now owns 25,959 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,506,000 after buying an additional 5,534 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP grew its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 66.2% during the third quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 51,647 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,256,000 after buying an additional 20,580 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ FERG opened at $183.70 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Ferguson has a 12 month low of $167.27 and a 12 month high of $225.63. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $180.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $195.39. The stock has a market cap of $36.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.05, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.24.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th were issued a $0.83 dividend. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.81%. 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 payout ratio is presently 39.86%.

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.