Vanguard Group Inc. Cuts Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Vanguard Group Inc. lessened its position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 0.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,107,696 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 118,072 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 12.10% of Masco worth $1,894,635,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Masco in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Masco in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. bought a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of Masco by 26.7% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company's stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the company'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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares in the company, valued at $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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Masco Stock Performance

Shares of MAS stock traded down $1.83 on Friday, hitting $68.63. 1,142,718 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,651,182. The firm's 50 day moving average is $75.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $77.92. Masco Co. has a one year low of $63.81 and a one year high of $86.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.55 billion, a PE ratio of 18.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (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 period last year, the company earned $0.83 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a $0.31 dividend. This is a positive change from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on MAS shares. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and set a $74.00 price objective on shares of Masco in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Oppenheimer upgraded Masco from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $89.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. UBS Group cut their price target on Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $86.32.

Masco Company Profile

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.