B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG Makes New $1.15 Million Investment in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG purchased a new position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 13,729 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $1,152,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Masco during the 2nd quarter worth $82,363,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in Masco by 956.3% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 989,640 shares of the construction company's stock worth $83,070,000 after purchasing an additional 895,950 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Masco by 66.5% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,823,934 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $121,581,000 after buying an additional 728,690 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Masco by 86.5% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 634,740 shares of the construction company's stock worth $42,318,000 after acquiring an additional 294,409 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of Masco by 340.7% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 376,400 shares of the construction company's stock worth $29,690,000 after purchasing an additional 291,000 shares during the period. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS traded up $0.68 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $79.01. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,260,624 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,806,374. The company has a market cap of $17.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.24. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $58.91 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.83. The business's 50 day moving average price is $81.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $75.46.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting 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 the consensus estimate of $2 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.00 EPS. The company's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.85%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of Masco stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total transaction of $2,961,592.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,896,273.60. This trade represents a 50.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $85.96.

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.