Ionic Capital Management LLC Lowers Holdings in James Hardie Industries PLC. $JHX

Ionic Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in James Hardie Industries PLC. (NYSE:JHX) by 24.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 69,127 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 22,500 shares during the quarter. James Hardie Industries accounts for approximately 0.2% of Ionic Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Ionic Capital Management LLC’s holdings in James Hardie Industries were worth $1,434,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of James Hardie Industries in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of James Hardie Industries by 3,431.1% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,589 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,544 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in shares of James Hardie Industries by 11,238.5% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,474 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 1,461 shares during the period. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of James Hardie Industries in the fourth quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Hilltop National Bank acquired a new position in shares of James Hardie Industries in the fourth quarter worth about $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.96% of the company’s stock.

James Hardie Industries Stock Down 4.1%

JHX opened at $24.58 on Thursday. James Hardie Industries PLC. has a twelve month low of $16.46 and a twelve month high of $29.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $21.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $21.73. The company has a market cap of $14.26 billion, a PE ratio of 111.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 13.92 and a beta of 1.80.

James Hardie Industries (NYSE:JHX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 20th. The construction company reported $0.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.01. James Hardie Industries had a net margin of 2.15% and a return on equity of 11.13%. The firm had revenue of $1.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.36 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 44.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that James Hardie Industries PLC. will post 1.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded shares of James Hardie Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of James Hardie Industries from $22.00 to $21.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, James Hardie Industries has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $26.00.

James Hardie Industries Profile

James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) is a global manufacturer of high-performance fiber cement building products. The company specializes in exterior cladding, trim and soffit, as well as interior backerboard solutions designed for residential and commercial construction. By combining cement, sand and cellulose fibers, James Hardie produces durable, low-maintenance materials that resist moisture, fire and termite damage, catering to builders, contractors and homeowners through a network of distributors and retail channels.

The company’s flagship products include Hardie® Plank® and Hardie® Panel® siding systems, Hardie® BackerBoard® for tile applications, and a range of architectural trim solutions.