Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Shares Sold by Amalgamated Bank

Amalgamated Bank decreased its position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 7.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,386 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 3,336 shares during the quarter. Amalgamated Bank's holdings in Masco were worth $3,003,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MAS. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Masco during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Masco during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Masco during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of Masco in the third quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in Masco in the third quarter valued at about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on MAS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Zelman & Associates upgraded Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $86.32.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of Masco stock traded up $1.13 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $73.63. 1,361,599 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,490,894. The stock has a market cap of $15.61 billion, a PE ratio of 19.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The stock's fifty day moving average is $76.11 and its 200 day moving average is $78.82. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $63.81 and a 12 month high of $86.70. 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 posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 EPS 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 in the previous year, the business posted $0.83 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.68%. This is an increase from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco's payout ratio is presently 32.98%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the firm'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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.