Kesler Norman & Wride LLC Takes Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Kesler Norman & Wride LLC acquired a new position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 9,455 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $686,000.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Masco

In other Masco news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of Masco stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total transaction of $225,317.42. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,370,678.06. The trade was a 8.68 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS opened at $71.07 on Thursday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $74.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $77.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.07 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 quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. Masco Co. has a 52-week low of $63.81 and a 52-week high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 in the prior year, the firm posted $0.83 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MAS shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $74.00 target price on shares of Masco in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Masco in a report on Tuesday. They issued a “hold” rating and a $71.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $85.30.

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.