Entropy Technologies LP Has $10.26 Million Stake in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Entropy Technologies LP increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 66.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 51,647 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 20,580 shares during the period. Ferguson accounts for approximately 1.1% of Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd largest position. Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $10,256,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its holdings in Ferguson by 1.8% during the first quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 3,142 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Ferguson by 1.8% during the third quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 3,307 shares of the company’s stock worth $657,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 3.0% during the second quarter. Transatlantique Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,035 shares of the company’s stock worth $394,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 3.2% during the third quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,952 shares of the company’s stock worth $388,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 3.8% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,130 shares of the company’s stock worth $412,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of FERG opened at $208.73 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $198.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $203.33. The company has a market cap of $41.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Ferguson plc has a one year low of $159.20 and a one year high of $225.63.

Ferguson (NASDAQ:FERG) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 17th. The company reported $2.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $7.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.01 billion. Ferguson had a net margin of 5.85% and a return on equity of 36.53%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.77 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Ferguson plc will post 9.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ferguson Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 27th were issued a dividend of $0.79 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 27th. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.51%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.05%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on Ferguson in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 price objective for the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on Ferguson from $229.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Ferguson from $211.00 to $219.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Ferguson from $238.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Ferguson from $225.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $233.38.

Insider Transactions at Ferguson

In other news, CMO Victoria Morrissey sold 1,468 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.20, for a total transaction of $295,361.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 5,205 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,047,246. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CMO Victoria Morrissey sold 1,468 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.20, for a total value of $295,361.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 5,205 shares in the company, valued at $1,047,246. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Garland Williams sold 1,118 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.22, for a total value of $224,963.96. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 1,882 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $378,696.04. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 12,313 shares of company stock worth $2,477,901. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

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.