Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Stake Raised by Seizert Capital Partners LLC

Seizert Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 540,437 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 96,415 shares during the period. Masco accounts for approximately 2.0% of Seizert Capital Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Seizert Capital Partners LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $45,364,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in MAS. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its position in Masco by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 236,201 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $19,827,000 after buying an additional 6,876 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 21.5% during the third quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 26,415 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,217,000 after acquiring an additional 4,668 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 1.8% during the third quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 7,917 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $665,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its position in Masco by 6.7% during the third 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 last quarter. Finally, OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Masco in the third quarter valued at about $292,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Price Performance

NYSE:MAS opened at $78.42 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.21. Masco Co. has a one year low of $58.89 and a one year high of $86.70. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $81.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $75.19. The stock has a market cap of $16.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 1.24.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 615.54%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.00 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. Masco’s payout ratio is presently 30.85%.

Insider Activity

In other Masco news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,896,273.60. The trade was a 50.56 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MAS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Masco from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $85.96.

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.