Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Shares Purchased by Metis Global Partners LLC

Metis Global Partners LLC raised its position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 7,031 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $590,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the second quarter worth approximately $82,363,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Masco by 956.3% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 989,640 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $83,070,000 after purchasing an additional 895,950 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Masco by 66.5% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,823,934 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $121,581,000 after buying an additional 728,690 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Masco by 2.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,300,591 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,074,591,000 after buying an additional 721,117 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Masco by 55.8% during the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,538,952 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $121,391,000 after acquiring an additional 551,203 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of MAS stock opened at $78.42 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.83. The firm has a market cap of $16.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.24. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $81.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $75.23. Masco Co. has a one year low of $58.89 and a one year high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The company had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.00 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.09 EPS for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be given a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.85%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of Masco stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total value of $2,961,592.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,896,273.60. The trade was a 50.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MAS shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. StockNews.com lowered Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays raised their target price on Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $85.96.

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.