PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the sixteen analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $140.5385.

PHM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of PulteGroup in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Barclays set a $115.00 price target on shares of PulteGroup in a report on Monday, December 8th. UBS Group cut their price objective on PulteGroup from $160.00 to $159.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on PulteGroup from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised PulteGroup from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th.

PulteGroup Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PHM opened at $126.87 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $124.83 and a 200-day moving average of $124.99. The company has a market capitalization of $24.73 billion, a PE ratio of 11.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.33. PulteGroup has a one year low of $88.07 and a one year high of $142.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.01.

PulteGroup Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th were given a $0.26 dividend. This is a positive change from PulteGroup’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 16th. PulteGroup’s payout ratio is presently 9.35%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PulteGroup

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PHM. Norges Bank bought a new position in PulteGroup during the second quarter valued at about $404,339,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA bought a new position in shares of PulteGroup in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $315,883,000. AGF Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in PulteGroup in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $174,347,000. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 120.4% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,703,049 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $225,024,000 after buying an additional 930,287 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in PulteGroup by 27.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,199,906 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $337,462,000 after acquiring an additional 683,728 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.90% of the company’s stock.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc (NYSE: PHM) is a U.S.-based residential homebuilder that designs, constructs and sells single-family homes and develops master-planned communities. The company operates multiple national and regional brands that target different buyer segments, including first-time buyers, move-up buyers and active-adult customers. Its operations encompass land acquisition and development, home design and construction, community amenities and ongoing customer service and warranty programs.

PulteGroup markets homes under several well-known brands, such as Pulte Homes, Centex and Del Webb, among others, offering a range of product types from entry-level detached homes to larger, higher-end residences and age-restricted active-adult communities.