Achmea Investment Management B.V. Has $18.34 Million Stock Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Achmea Investment Management B.V. cut its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 252,670 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 7,415 shares during the quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V.’s holdings in Masco were worth $18,337,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in Masco by 20.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 331,883 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $28,147,000 after acquiring an additional 56,626 shares during the last quarter. Seizert Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 96,415 shares during the last quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Masco by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 219,120 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $17,135,000 after acquiring an additional 13,568 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in Masco by 69.1% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,544 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $112,000 after acquiring an additional 631 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empower Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in Masco by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,016,079 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $73,737,000 after acquiring an additional 20,129 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Masco Stock Down 0.4 %

MAS opened at $71.10 on Thursday. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $63.81 and a 1-year high of $86.70. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $76.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The stock has a market cap of $15.07 billion, a PE ratio of 18.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted 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 return on equity of 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.83 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup reduced their price target on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and set a $74.00 price target on shares of Masco in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Oppenheimer raised Masco from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $89.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. StockNews.com downgraded Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Masco presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.32.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Masco 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 transaction of $1,658,768.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares in the company, valued at $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

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.