Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. Raises Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 13.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,463 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Masco were worth $324,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Masco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Masco in the third quarter worth approximately $38,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Masco in the third quarter worth approximately $43,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 59.4% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 596 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of Masco by 86.4% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 673 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS opened at $78.72 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $76.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $77.92. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $63.81 and a 1-year high of $86.70. The firm has a market cap of $16.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.25. 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 (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The firm had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Masco’s payout ratio is currently 30.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Citigroup decreased their price target on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. UBS Group increased their price target on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $86.27.

About Masco

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.