Fox Run Management L.L.C. Raises Stock Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Fox Run Management L.L.C. increased its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 66.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 12,345 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,907 shares during the period. Fox Run Management L.L.C.'s holdings in Masco were worth $896,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in shares of Masco by 17.3% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 901 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Trust Co. raised its stake in Masco by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 8,089 shares of the construction company's stock worth $587,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,921 shares of the construction company's stock worth $1,301,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in shares of Masco by 26.7% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Keybank National Association OH grew its holdings in shares of Masco by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 4,165 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $302,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

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Masco Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE MAS traded up $0.13 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $70.54. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,984,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,569,490. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $75.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.03. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $63.81 and a 12 month high of $86.70. The stock has a market cap of $14.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. 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 - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.83 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.76%. This is a boost from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. Masco's payout ratio is presently 32.98%.

Insider Activity at Masco

In related news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total transaction of $1,658,768.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at $2,370,678.06. The trade was a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on MAS shares. Citigroup dropped their price target on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Zelman & Associates upgraded Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Nine 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. According to MarketBeat, Masco has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $86.32.

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.