Blue Trust Inc. Trims Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Blue Trust Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 45.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,435 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 1,202 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in Masco were worth $104,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in MAS. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Masco in the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco in the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Masco by 59.4% in the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 596 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Down 1.9 %

NYSE:MAS opened at $74.82 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $15.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.25. Masco Co. has a one year low of $63.81 and a one year high of $86.70. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $76.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $78.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly 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 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.83 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MAS has been the topic of several research reports. Truist Financial increased their target price on Masco from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Zelman & Associates upgraded Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.