JPMorgan Chase & Co. Boosts Masco (NYSE:MAS) Price Target to $83.50

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $80.00 to $83.50 in a research report released on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a neutral rating on the construction company's stock.

MAS has been the topic of a number of other reports. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Masco from $73.00 to $66.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Masco from $89.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Loop Capital upped their price target on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $85.96.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MAS traded up $0.99 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $81.78. 891,505 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,805,238. Masco has a 52 week low of $54.55 and a 52 week high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.83. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $81.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $74.62. The company has a market cap of $17.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 1.24.

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

Masco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.85%.

Insider Transactions at Masco

In other news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total value of $2,961,592.48. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares in the company, valued at $2,896,273.60. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masco

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new stake in Masco in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Masco in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in Masco in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its holdings in Masco by 46.0% during the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 568 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in Masco during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.