Ferguson plc (NYSE:FERG) Stock Has Average Target Price of $285.57

Shares of Ferguson plc (NYSE:FERG) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the nineteen ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, ten have given a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $283.07.

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. UBS Group raised their target price on Ferguson from $252.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Ferguson from $285.00 to $288.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on Ferguson from $290.00 to $286.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Ferguson from $280.00 to $288.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut Ferguson from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $315.00 to $265.00 in a research note on Monday, July 6th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Ferguson news, insider Jake Schlicher sold 5,177 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $230.92, for a total value of $1,195,472.84. Following the transaction, the insider owned 9,490 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,191,430.80. This represents a 35.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.15% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ferguson

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Compass Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ferguson in the second quarter worth $32,000. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in Ferguson during the second quarter valued at $42,000. Vega Investment Solutions boosted its position in Ferguson by 50.5% during the second quarter. Vega Investment Solutions now owns 277 shares of the company’s stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. grew its stake in Ferguson by 93.5% in the second quarter. Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. now owns 296 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in Ferguson by 26.1% in the third quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:FERG opened at $216.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.73. The company has a market cap of $41.84 billion, a PE ratio of 25.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.14. Ferguson has a 52 week low of $212.13 and a 52 week high of $271.64. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $231.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $234.62.

Ferguson (NYSE:FERG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $3.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.23 by $0.16. Ferguson had a net margin of 6.82% and a return on equity of 37.24%. The firm had revenue of $8.75 billion for the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that Ferguson will post 11.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Ferguson Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Friday, August 21st were issued a dividend of $0.89 per share. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 21st. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.83%.

About Ferguson

Ferguson plc (NYSE: FERG) is a North American distributor of plumbing and heating products, supplying professional customers across the residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructure markets. The company serves contractors, builders, remodelers, municipalities, industrial businesses and other trade professionals through branch locations, distribution centers and digital ordering platforms.

Its product offerings include plumbing supplies and fixtures, heating and cooling equipment, water and wastewater products, fire protection systems, waterworks materials, industrial piping and related maintenance, repair and operating supplies.