In the second quarter of this year, McDonald Capital Investors Inc. CA reduced its holdings in Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM) by 2.6%. According to the recent filing on Form 13F with the Securities & Exchange Commission, the investment firm now owns 110,367 shares of the construction company’s stock, after selling 2,935 shares during the quarter. This reduction in share ownership has resulted in Martin Marietta Materials making up approximately 3.8% of McDonald Capital Investors Inc. CA’s portfolio, placing it as their 12th largest holding. At the end of the most recent quarter, McDonald Capital Investors Inc. CA held approximately 0.18% of Martin Marietta Materials worth $50,955,000.
Furthermore, Martin Marietta Materials recently announced an increase in their quarterly dividend payment. On Friday, September 29th, stockholders of record as at Friday, September 1st will receive a dividend of $0.74 per share. The ex-dividend date for this payment is Thursday, August 31st. This represents a significant boost from their previous quarterly dividend amounting to $0.66 per share and translates into an annualized dividend payout of $2.96 per share with a dividend yield of approximately 0.70%. Notably, Martin Marietta Materials’ payout ratio is currently standing at 19.42%.
Martin Marietta Materials is a leading supplier of aggregates such as crushed stone, sand and gravel used for infrastructure and construction projects across North America. The company’s diverse product portfolio positions them strongly within their industry and has contributed to their continued growth and success.
As an investor or potential investor in Martin Marietta Materials, it is crucial to stay informed about any developments that may impact your investment strategy. For instance, monitoring significant changes in share ownership by prominent investors like McDonald Capital Investors Inc., CA can provide valuable insights into the company’s overall market perception. Similarly, dividend changes may impact an investor’s assessment of the stock’s value and investment potential.
It is important to note that this information is accurate as of September 18, 2023. Updated information can be obtained through official channels such as the Securities & Exchange Commission or the company’s investor relations department.
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Institutional Investors Show Confidence in Martin Marietta Materials and Positive Earnings Results
Institutional investors have recently made significant moves in regards to their stakes in Martin Marietta Materials, a leading construction company. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake valued at approximately $26,000 during the first quarter. Similarly, Quarry LP acquired a new stake worth $30,000 during the same period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its position in the company by 212.9% during the fourth quarter and now owns 97 shares worth $33,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. also purchased a new stake, this one valued at $36,000, while ZRC Wealth Management LLC rounded out the group with a new stake worth $39,000.
These moves can be seen as an indication of confidence in Martin Marietta Materials from these institutional investors. It is important to note that hedge funds and other institutional investors currently own 93.22% of the company’s stock.
Equity research analysts have also issued various reports on MLM shares. HSBC initiated coverage on Martin Marietta Materials with a “reduce” rating and set a target price of $376.00 on the stock on Friday. StockNews.com issued a “hold” rating for the company on Thursday, August 17th. Truist Financial gave Martin Marietta Materials a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective from $446.00 to $550.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Jefferies Financial Group also gave the stock a “buy” rating and raised their target price from $460.00 to $530.00 on Thursday, July 13th.
Additionally, Citigroup raised their target price from $460.00 to $527.00 and gave Martin Marietta Materials a “buy” rating in another report released on Friday, July 14th.
Overall, Bloomberg.com states that Martin Marietta Materials has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $465.07.
On the stock market, NYSE:MLM saw a decrease of $1.08 during trading hours on Monday, reaching a price of $424.05 per share. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 8,780 shares compared to its average volume of 375,216. With a market capitalization of $26.28 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.90, Martin Marietta Materials has proven to be a valuable investment opportunity for many investors.
The firm’s 50-day simple moving average stands at $447.79, while its 200-day simple moving average is set at $407.05. These figures help to provide additional insight into the performance trends of the stock.
Martin Marietta Materials reported earnings results for the quarter ending on July 27th, with impressive numbers that surpassed analyst expectations. The construction company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $5.60 for the quarter, beating consensus estimates by $0.77. This demonstrates the company’s strong financial performance during this period.
Furthermore, Martin Marietta Materials achieved a return on equity of 13.42% and a net margin of 14.68%. Additionally, it generated revenue amounting to $1.82 billion during the quarter, meeting analysts’ predictions precisely.
Comparatively speaking, this quarterly revenue reflected an increase of 10.9% when compared to the same period in the previous year when EPS stood at $3.96.
As for future prospects, research analysts expect Martin Marietta Materials to post an EPS figure of 17.56 for the current fiscal year.
In conclusion, recent developments indicate that institutional investors have taken notice and made strategic investments in Martin Marietta Materials as they recognize its potential for growth and profitability in the construction industry sector moving forward.