Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Has $842,000 Stock Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lowered its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 5.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,600 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 700 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in Masco were worth $842,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Masco during the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Masco in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Masco by 59.4% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 596 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MAS opened at $78.42 on Tuesday. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $63.81 and a 12 month high of $86.70. The business has a 50-day moving average of $76.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $78.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.83 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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 is Friday, February 21st. This is a positive change from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.58%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on MAS. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Citigroup lowered 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. Zelman & Associates upgraded Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.32.

Masco 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.