Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM) – What Are Analysts Thinking About This Stock?

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-four analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $634.75.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Martin Marietta Materials from $664.00 to $639.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Martin Marietta Materials from $720.00 to $670.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Zacks Research downgraded Martin Marietta Materials from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on Martin Marietta Materials from $530.00 to $520.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 6th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Martin Marietta Materials to an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Martin Marietta Materials Stock Performance

NYSE MLM traded down $4.31 on Friday, hitting $513.02. 491,848 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 964,771. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The business’s fifty day moving average is $503.62 and its 200 day moving average is $570.27. Martin Marietta Materials has a 52 week low of $464.92 and a 52 week high of $710.97. The company has a market capitalization of $36.49 billion, a PE ratio of 13.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.02.

Martin Marietta Materials (NYSE:MLM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 4th. The construction company reported $5.47 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.99 by ($0.52). The firm had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.24 billion. Martin Marietta Materials had a net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 7.96%. The business’s revenue was up 28.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $6.85 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Martin Marietta Materials will post 15.30 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Martin Marietta Materials Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be paid a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 1st. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. Martin Marietta Materials’s dividend payout ratio is 8.89%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Martin Marietta Materials

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new stake in Martin Marietta Materials during the second quarter worth approximately $3,650,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its stake in Martin Marietta Materials by 6.6% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 118,981 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $68,541,000 after buying an additional 7,361 shares during the period. Montanova Capital LLC acquired a new position in Martin Marietta Materials in the second quarter valued at approximately $14,994,000. National Pension Service lifted its stake in Martin Marietta Materials by 6.4% in the second quarter. National Pension Service now owns 95,221 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $54,914,000 after buying an additional 5,739 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of Martin Marietta Materials during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,411,047,000. 95.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Martin Marietta Materials Company Profile

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. is a U.S.-based supplier of building materials used in construction and infrastructure projects. Its products include crushed stone, sand and gravel, cement, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt. The company also produces specialty products through its magnesia-based business, including lime, chemicals and products used in industrial and environmental applications. Its construction materials operations serve markets across the United States. Martin Marietta traces its roots to 1939 and has grown through acquisitions and expansion of its materials operations.