Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the thirteen analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $81.75.

MAS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Masco from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. StockNews.com upgraded Masco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Masco from $89.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Masco from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th.

Insider Activity at Masco

In other Masco news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total transaction of $2,961,592.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares in the company, valued at $2,896,273.60. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Masco

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new stake in Masco in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Masco in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Family Firm Inc. bought a new position in Masco in the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 4,545.5% in the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 511 shares of the construction company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS traded down $1.62 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $81.26. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,578,373 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,800,188. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.18, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.12. Masco has a 52 week low of $49.24 and a 52 week high of $86.70. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $81.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $74.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.73 billion, a PE ratio of 19.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 1.24.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The construction company reported $1.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.18 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.10 billion. Masco had a net margin of 11.59% and a return on equity of 602.39%. Masco's revenue for the quarter was down 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.19 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Masco will post 4.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.