Boston Common Asset Management LLC Sells 218 Shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Boston Common Asset Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,789 shares of the company’s stock after selling 218 shares during the quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $1,177,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Asset Dedication LLC bought a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in Ferguson by 1,350.0% in 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 during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $37,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Reston Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $40,000. 81.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ferguson Price Performance

Shares of FERG stock opened at $177.50 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Ferguson plc has a twelve month low of $167.27 and a twelve month high of $225.63. The company has a market cap of $35.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $191.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $198.12.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a $0.83 dividend. This is a boost from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.87%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio is presently 39.86%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on FERG. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Ferguson from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Ferguson from $220.00 to $215.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Ferguson from $221.00 to $189.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $220.10.

Ferguson 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.