Savant Capital LLC Has $496,000 Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Savant Capital LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 6.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,834 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 447 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $496,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of Masco by 20.6% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 331,883 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $28,147,000 after buying an additional 56,626 shares during the period. Seizert Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Masco by 21.7% in the 3rd quarter. Seizert Capital Partners LLC now owns 540,437 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $45,364,000 after buying an additional 96,415 shares during the period. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Masco by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 219,120 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $17,135,000 after buying an additional 13,568 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of Masco by 69.1% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,544 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $112,000 after buying an additional 631 shares during the period. Finally, Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in shares of Masco by 139.9% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,262 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 736 shares during the period. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Masco Price Performance

Masco stock opened at $78.42 on Monday. Masco Co. has a 52 week low of $63.81 and a 52 week high of $86.70. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $76.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.71. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The stock has a market cap of $16.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 615.54%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.83 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.58%. This is a positive change from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MAS has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $74.00 target price on shares of Masco in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Loop Capital raised their price target on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. StockNews.com cut shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Zelman & Associates raised shares of Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $86.32.

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.