Wedge Capital Management L L P NC Sells 9,196 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Wedge Capital Management L L P NC cut its position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 5.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 146,360 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 9,196 shares during the quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC owned about 0.07% of Masco worth $10,621,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in shares of Masco by 20.6% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 331,883 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $28,147,000 after acquiring an additional 56,626 shares during the period. Seizert Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Masco by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter. Seizert Capital Partners LLC now owns 540,437 shares of the construction company's stock worth $45,364,000 after purchasing an additional 96,415 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its holdings in shares of Masco by 11.6% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 465,033 shares of the construction company's stock worth $30,932,000 after purchasing an additional 48,379 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in Masco by 69.1% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,544 shares of the construction company's stock worth $112,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the period. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Masco in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,509,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MAS traded up $0.74 during trading on Friday, reaching $78.29. The company had a trading volume of 1,659,219 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,051,616. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $63.81 and a 12 month high of $86.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a fifty day moving average of $76.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $77.72.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.00 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MAS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $85.00 price objective (down previously from $92.00) on shares of Masco in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Masco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Loop Capital increased their price target on Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Masco currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $86.27.

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.