StockNews.com Downgrades Masco (NYSE:MAS) to Hold

Masco (NYSE:MAS) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Friday.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on MAS. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded shares of Masco from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $79.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Masco from $89.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group upped their price target on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Masco presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $85.96.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of MAS opened at $78.42 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $81.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $75.19. The firm has a market cap of $16.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. Masco has a 1-year low of $58.89 and a 1-year high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.00 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Masco will post 4.09 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total value of $2,961,592.48. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 36,980 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,896,273.60. This represents a 50.56 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masco

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Masco in the second quarter worth $82,363,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in Masco by 956.3% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 989,640 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $83,070,000 after buying an additional 895,950 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Masco by 66.5% during the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,823,934 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $121,581,000 after buying an additional 728,690 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Masco by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,300,591 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,074,591,000 after buying an additional 721,117 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Masco by 55.8% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,538,952 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $121,391,000 after acquiring an additional 551,203 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Company Profile

Masco Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes home improvement and building products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company's Plumbing Products segment offers faucets, showerheads, handheld showers, valves, bath hardware and accessories, bathing units, shower bases and enclosures, sinks, toilets, acrylic tubs, shower trays, spas, exercise pools, and fitness systems; brass, copper, and composite plumbing system components; connected water products; thermoplastic solutions, extruded plastic profiles, specialized fabrications, and PEX tubing products; and other non-decorative plumbing products.