Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Sells 15,154 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans cut its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 7.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 194,713 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 15,154 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned 0.09% of Masco worth $14,153,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MAS. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Masco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Masco during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its holdings in Masco by 26.7% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Masco by 74.3% during the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 774 shares of the construction company's stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of MAS traded up $0.05 on Wednesday, hitting $70.44. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,612,014 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,568,329. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $75.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $78.09. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $63.81 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The company has a market capitalization of $14.93 billion, a PE ratio of 18.74, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15.

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Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last announced 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 return on equity of 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.83 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business 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. 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 1.76%. Masco's payout ratio is currently 32.98%.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of Masco 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 completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the business'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 of the company's stock, valued at $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and set a $74.00 target price on shares of Masco in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Citigroup reduced 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. Oppenheimer raised shares of Masco from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $89.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Zelman & Associates upgraded shares of Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.