Yacktman Asset Management LP Trims Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Yacktman Asset Management LP trimmed its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 296,914 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 13,541 shares during the quarter. Yacktman Asset Management LP owned about 0.14% of Masco worth $21,547,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in shares of Masco by 956.3% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 989,640 shares of the construction company's stock worth $83,070,000 after buying an additional 895,950 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 21.0% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 2,997,839 shares of the construction company's stock worth $218,063,000 after acquiring an additional 520,555 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its position in Masco by 91.6% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 708,830 shares of the construction company's stock worth $51,440,000 after acquiring an additional 338,925 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Masco by 49.2% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 883,859 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $74,192,000 after acquiring an additional 291,658 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its position in Masco by 4,028.2% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 200,795 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $16,855,000 after purchasing an additional 195,931 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Masco Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of Masco stock traded up $0.66 during trading on Friday, reaching $78.28. 669,871 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,466,295. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $63.81 and a 1 year high of $86.70. The firm has a market cap of $16.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The stock's fifty day moving average is $76.47 and its 200 day moving average is $78.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.83 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $0.31 per share. This is an increase from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. Masco's payout ratio is presently 30.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MAS has been the topic of several recent research reports. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Masco from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays upped their target price on Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus 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.