Comgest Global Investors S.A.S. Buys 5,109 Shares of Ferguson plc $FERG

Comgest Global Investors S.A.S. raised its stake in Ferguson plc (NYSE:FERG) by 8.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 68,883 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 5,109 shares during the period. Comgest Global Investors S.A.S.’s holdings in Ferguson were worth $15,470,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ferguson by 145.3% in the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 130 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in Ferguson by 178.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 128 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC bought a new stake in Ferguson in the third quarter worth $43,000. Harbour Investments Inc. boosted its position in Ferguson by 61.3% during the second quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 242 shares of the company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the period. Finally, AdvisorShares Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ferguson in the 2nd quarter valued at about $58,000. Institutional investors own 81.98% of the company’s stock.

Ferguson Price Performance

Shares of FERG stock opened at $260.18 on Thursday. Ferguson plc has a 12 month low of $146.00 and a 12 month high of $271.64. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $242.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $238.46. The company has a market capitalization of $50.88 billion, a PE ratio of 26.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.88 and a quick ratio of 1.01.

Ferguson (NYSE:FERG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported $2.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.07. Ferguson had a net margin of 6.28% and a return on equity of 35.73%. The firm had revenue of $8.17 billion during the quarter. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.45 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.89 per share. This is a positive change from Ferguson’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $3.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. Ferguson’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.96%.

Key Ferguson News

Here are the key news stories impacting Ferguson this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly results and fundamentals support the stock: Ferguson reported an EPS beat and saw year‑over‑year revenue growth with healthy margins and strong return on equity, which underpins investor confidence. Ferguson Stock Up / Earnings Summary
• Neutral Sentiment: High‑profile media coverage about Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) — several outlets report that six of her companies are being shut down after revelations tied to the Epstein files; this is a reputational/celebrity story and not related to Ferguson plc’s business. Six Sarah Ferguson-linked companies to close
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional celebrity coverage (emails, allegations, commentary suggesting media moves) is circulating about Sarah Ferguson; these stories drive headlines but have no direct bearing on Ferguson plc’s fundamentals or distribution operations. Sarah Ferguson Dissolves Six Businesses
• Neutral Sentiment: Washington state political and weather items: Governor Ferguson (WA) is seeking FEMA aid after December flooding, estimates ~$182M in infrastructure damage, and is backing a “millionaires’ tax” / tax‑holiday proposals — local fiscal/policy developments that could affect state construction and infrastructure activity but are immaterial to Ferguson plc at the company level. Ferguson says December’s record flooding caused $182M in infrastructure damage
• Neutral Sentiment: Unrelated sports/other mentions (e.g., a player’s ankle injury story using the name Ferguson) appear in feeds but do not affect the company’s stock or outlook. Ferguson continues to struggle with ankle injury

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FERG has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays upped their price target on Ferguson from $267.00 to $278.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Wall Street Zen cut Ferguson from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Ferguson from $268.00 to $289.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Ferguson from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Ferguson from $262.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ferguson presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $253.00.

About Ferguson

Ferguson (NYSE: FERG) is a multinational distributor specializing in plumbing and heating products and related building supplies, serving professional contractors, builders and industrial customers. The company supplies a broad range of products used in residential, commercial and infrastructure projects, including pipes and fittings, valves and controls, HVAC equipment, waterworks materials, plumbing fixtures, pumps and accessories, as well as complementary electrical and specialty product lines.

Ferguson operates a network of branches and distribution centers that provide inventory, logistics and value-added services to trade customers.