12th Street Asset Management Company LLC Has $19.68 Million Stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

12th Street Asset Management Company LLC trimmed its position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 0.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 271,132 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 2,192 shares during the period. Masco accounts for approximately 3.2% of 12th Street Asset Management Company LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. 12th Street Asset Management Company LLC owned approximately 0.13% of Masco worth $19,676,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Masco by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 263,155 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $22,089,000 after purchasing an additional 7,089 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in Masco by 139.9% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,262 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 736 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Masco by 86.4% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 673 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp grew its holdings in Masco by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 5,674 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $476,000 after buying an additional 351 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Masco in the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on MAS. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Oppenheimer raised Masco from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $89.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Masco has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $86.32.

Insider Activity at Masco

In related news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This represents a 8.68 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Masco Stock Down 2.8 %

MAS stock opened at $69.10 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75. The company has a market capitalization of $14.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.38, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $63.81 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $76.13 and a 200-day moving average of $78.61.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a return on equity of 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.83 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. This is a positive change from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.79%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.98%.

Masco 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.