Franklin Resources Inc. Buys 56,626 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 20.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 331,883 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 56,626 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 0.15% of Masco worth $28,147,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake 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 valued at $83,070,000 after buying an additional 895,950 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its position in Masco by 66.5% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,823,934 shares of the construction company's stock worth $121,581,000 after purchasing an additional 728,690 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Masco by 86.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 634,740 shares of the construction company's stock worth $42,318,000 after purchasing an additional 294,409 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Masco by 49.2% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 883,859 shares of the construction company's stock worth $74,192,000 after purchasing an additional 291,658 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in Masco by 89.5% during the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 579,597 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $38,642,000 after purchasing an additional 273,718 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Masco Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of Masco stock traded down $1.27 on Thursday, hitting $72.69. The company had a trading volume of 1,710,918 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,763,175. Masco Co. has a twelve month low of $63.60 and a twelve month high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.21. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $80.41 and a 200-day moving average of $76.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.23.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08. The firm had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2 billion. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The company's revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.00 EPS. Research analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were given a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.85%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on MAS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $85.00 target price (down previously from $92.00) on shares of Masco in a report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday. Barclays raised their price target on Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Loop Capital increased their target price on Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $85.88.

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.