Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. reduced its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 231,479 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 25,743 shares during the period. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.11% of Masco worth $19,430,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its position in Masco by 14.3% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 542,096 shares of the construction company's stock worth $42,245,000 after purchasing an additional 67,806 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in Masco during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,903,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Masco during the second quarter valued at approximately $82,363,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Masco by 2.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,300,591 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $2,074,591,000 after acquiring an additional 721,117 shares during the period. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. boosted its position in Masco by 119.1% in the 1st quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 290,123 shares of the construction company's stock worth $22,885,000 after purchasing an additional 157,711 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MAS traded up $0.25 during trading on Friday, reaching $85.71. The stock had a trading volume of 1,592,564 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,809,592. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $80.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $74.10. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $47.66 and a 1-year high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.18, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market cap of $18.88 billion, a PE ratio of 21.01, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 1.24.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The construction company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.18 by $0.02. The business 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%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.19 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 2nd were paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 2nd. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.43%.

Insider Transactions at Masco

In related news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total value of $2,961,592.48. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price 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. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Masco from $73.00 to $66.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Masco from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Masco from $81.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Masco from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $80.58.

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.