Trexquant Investment LP Lowers Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Trexquant Investment LP reduced its position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 85.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 35,010 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 197,619 shares during the quarter. Trexquant Investment LP's holdings in Masco were worth $2,541,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Masco by 17.3% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 901 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Trust Co. boosted its holdings in Masco by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 8,089 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $587,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Masco by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,921 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,301,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its position in shares of Masco by 26.7% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company's stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, Keybank National Association OH increased its position in shares of Masco by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 4,165 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $302,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.

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Insider Transactions at Masco

In other news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total value of $1,658,768.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of MAS traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $61.86. The stock had a trading volume of 2,489,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,703,876. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $57.27 and a 12 month high of $86.70. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $71.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $76.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.09 billion, a PE ratio of 16.45, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.83 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This is an increase from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.00%. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on MAS shares. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and issued a $74.00 target price on shares of Masco in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $84.50.

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.