National Pension Service Acquires 39,304 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

National Pension Service increased its position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 9.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 445,459 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 39,304 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned approximately 0.20% of Masco worth $37,392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Masco by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,031 shares of the construction company's stock worth $170,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 3.6% in the second quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,127 shares of the construction company's stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. American National Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 1.0% during the third quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 14,846 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,246,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Hills Bank & Trust Co boosted its position in shares of Masco by 0.7% during the third quarter. Hills Bank & Trust Co now owns 20,663 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,734,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BOKF NA increased its holdings in Masco by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. BOKF NA now owns 6,178 shares of the construction company's stock worth $480,000 after buying an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Trading Up 0.0 %

Masco stock traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $80.24. The stock had a trading volume of 1,443,824 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,806,748. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The firm has a market cap of $17.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.24. Masco Co. has a 52-week low of $55.09 and a 52-week high of $86.70. The company has a fifty day moving average of $81.68 and a 200 day moving average of $74.73.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The company had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.00 EPS. Masco's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. Masco's dividend payout ratio is presently 30.85%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on MAS shares. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Masco from $73.00 to $66.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 11th. UBS Group raised their target price on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Masco from $89.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $85.96.

Insider Activity at Masco

In other news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total transaction of $2,961,592.48. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 36,980 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,896,273.60. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company 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.