Masco (NYSE:MAS) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”

StockNews.com cut shares of Masco (NYSE:MAS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.

A number of other research firms have also commented on MAS. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Masco from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Loop Capital dropped their target price on Masco from $79.00 to $76.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Masco from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 5th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Masco from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $72.15.

Masco Stock Performance

MAS stock opened at $70.23 on Friday. Masco has a 52 week low of $47.66 and a 52 week high of $78.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.76, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.74. The stock has a market cap of $15.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $74.68 and a 200 day simple moving average of $67.69.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The construction company reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.94 billion. Masco had a return on equity of 865.37% and a net margin of 11.60%. The firm’s revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.87 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Masco will post 4.11 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 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 22nd were given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 21st. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.65%. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.43%.

Insider Transactions at Masco

In related news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total value of $385,250.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Masco news, insider Jai Shah sold 42,552 shares of Masco stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total value of $3,249,270.72. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 15,830 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,208,778.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $806,328.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 83,762 shares of company stock valued at $6,337,597 over the last 90 days. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Masco by 62.4% during the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 354 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Masco by 70.1% in the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 432 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in Masco by 4,545.5% during the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 511 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Riverview Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Masco during the 1st quarter worth $43,000. Finally, Union Savings Bank lifted its stake in Masco by 91.7% in the 4th quarter. Union Savings Bank now owns 575 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.