Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Stock Position Raised by HighTower Advisors LLC

HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 8.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 108,112 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 8,293 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC owned 0.05% of Masco worth $7,846,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in Masco by 139.9% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,262 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 736 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its stake in Masco by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 7,031 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $590,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Masco during the 3rd quarter valued at about $292,000. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in Masco by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 32,765 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,750,000 after purchasing an additional 2,067 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC boosted its stake in Masco by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 7,917 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $665,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Masco

In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 directly owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total transaction 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. The trade was 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 currently owned by company insiders.

Masco Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:MAS opened at $71.07 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.90, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $76.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $78.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $63.81 and a 1-year high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 in the prior year, the company posted $0.83 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.74%. This is an increase from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $74.00 price objective on shares of Masco in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Nine 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $86.32.

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.