Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 143,799 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. reduced its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 14.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 845,841 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 143,799 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.39% of Masco worth $61,383,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MAS. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in Masco by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 10,622 shares of the construction company's stock worth $708,000 after buying an additional 688 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of Masco by 565.0% in the second quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 144,767 shares of the construction company's stock worth $9,652,000 after acquiring an additional 122,998 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Masco by 2.0% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 835,316 shares of the construction company's stock worth $55,691,000 after acquiring an additional 16,289 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Masco by 12.1% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,137,450 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $75,834,000 after purchasing an additional 122,705 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in Masco by 14.4% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 660,744 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $44,052,000 after purchasing an additional 83,244 shares during the period. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Masco Price Performance

NYSE MAS traded up $0.45 on Thursday, hitting $77.54. 1,437,013 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,298,751. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The company has a market cap of $16.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.25. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $63.81 and a 1-year high of $86.70. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $76.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $77.45.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.08. Masco had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 615.54%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.00 earnings per share. Masco's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.09 EPS for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. Masco's payout ratio is 30.85%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Masco from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Masco from $93.00 to $84.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Citigroup reduced their target price on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Masco has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $86.27.

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.