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

Masco (NYSE:MAS) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Masco from $89.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $85.96.

Masco Stock Down 0.1 %

MAS opened at $79.19 on Friday. Masco has a 12 month low of $58.89 and a 12 month high of $86.70. The stock has a market cap of $17.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.24. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $81.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.08. 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 (NYSE:MAS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2 billion. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.00 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Masco will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the company’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 completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares in the company, valued at $2,896,273.60. This represents a 50.56 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Masco

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in MAS. Paloma Partners Management Co bought a new position in Masco during the 3rd quarter worth about $741,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its stake in shares of Masco by 4,028.2% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 200,795 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $16,855,000 after buying an additional 195,931 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Masco by 17.1% during the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 104,766 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $8,794,000 after buying an additional 15,282 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in Masco by 43.1% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 38,631 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $3,243,000 after purchasing an additional 11,637 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its stake in Masco by 8.2% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 9,215 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $774,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

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.