Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership Buys 172,175 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 33.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 694,275 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 172,175 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned about 0.32% of Masco worth $50,384,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MAS. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in Masco by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 901 shares of the construction company's stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Trust Co. raised its holdings in Masco by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 8,089 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $587,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Masco by 0.8% in the 4th 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 period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its holdings in shares of Masco by 26.7% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company's stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Keybank National Association OH increased its position in shares of Masco by 3.8% during the fourth 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 period. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.

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Masco Trading Down 2.0 %

Shares of Masco stock traded down $1.30 during trading on Friday, hitting $62.85. 4,248,558 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,675,235. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $74.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $77.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $60.29 and a 1-year high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 last year, the firm earned $0.83 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.97%. This is a boost from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. Masco's payout ratio is presently 32.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on MAS shares. Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Ten 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $85.30.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the 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 transaction, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $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. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

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.