Prudential Financial Inc. Reduces Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Prudential Financial Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 12.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 128,624 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 17,562 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. owned about 0.06% of Masco worth $9,334,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Stevens Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Masco by 107.9% during the fourth quarter. Stevens Capital Management LP now owns 10,585 shares of the construction company's stock worth $768,000 after purchasing an additional 5,494 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in Masco by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 175,207 shares of the construction company's stock worth $12,715,000 after buying an additional 8,641 shares in the last quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Masco by 66.0% in the 4th quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. now owns 12,345 shares of the construction company's stock worth $896,000 after purchasing an additional 4,907 shares during the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in Masco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $5,542,000. Finally, Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 5,050.0% during the fourth quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,300 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $747,000 after purchasing an additional 10,100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

MAS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $74.00 price target on shares of Masco in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Oppenheimer raised Masco from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $89.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, January 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Ten equities research 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. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $85.30.

Masco Stock Down 10.7 %

MAS traded down $7.64 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $63.42. 1,186,414 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,649,962. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. Masco Co. has a 12-month low of $63.19 and a 12-month high of $86.70. The firm has a market cap of $13.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $74.73 and a 200 day moving average of $77.73.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last posted 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 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.83 EPS. Analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS 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 given a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. 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 dividend yield of 1.96%. Masco's payout ratio is currently 32.98%.

Masco 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.