Clio Asset Management LLC Decreases Holdings in Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG)

Clio Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Ferguson plc (NASDAQ:FERG) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 66,685 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,629 shares during the period. Ferguson accounts for about 8.5% of Clio Asset Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 7th largest position. Clio Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $11,575,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of FERG. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 19,502 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,777,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. AXA S.A. boosted its position in Ferguson by 29.1% in the second quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 33,383 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,465,000 after buying an additional 7,534 shares in the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ferguson during the second quarter worth $2,843,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 22.0% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,343 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,034,000 after buying an additional 964 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ascent Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 11.5% during the second quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 7,321 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,418,000 after buying an additional 753 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Stock Performance

Shares of FERG opened at $180.68 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $189.28 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $197.93. Ferguson plc has a 12 month low of $167.27 and a 12 month high of $225.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.24.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be issued a $0.83 dividend. This is an increase from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 20th. Ferguson’s payout ratio is presently 39.86%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on FERG shares. Barclays reduced their price objective on Ferguson from $234.00 to $211.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Zelman & Associates cut Ferguson from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $193.00 price objective (down previously from $230.00) on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $234.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their price target on shares of Ferguson from $224.00 to $240.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ferguson has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $220.10.

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.