KBC Group NV Sells 175,881 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

KBC Group NV trimmed its position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 32.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 369,905 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 175,881 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV owned about 0.17% of Masco worth $31,049,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MAS. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. bought a new stake in shares of Masco in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Masco during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Family Firm Inc. bought a new stake in Masco in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Masco in the third quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Masco during the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Masco Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE MAS traded down $0.77 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $78.42. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,180,160 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,800,371. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.21. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $58.89 and a 1 year high of $86.70. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $81.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $75.08.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 615.54%. The firm had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.00 earnings per share. The firm'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 Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.48%. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.85%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on MAS. Loop Capital upped their price target on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays increased their price target on Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. StockNews.com cut Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Masco presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $85.96.

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.