Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. Trims Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. cut its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 18.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,457 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 983 shares during the period. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd.’s holdings in Masco were worth $299,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MAS. Center for Financial Planning Inc. grew its stake in Masco by 270.6% in the third quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 667 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 487 shares during the period. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter worth $39,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter worth $44,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC grew its stake in Masco by 70.6% in the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,051 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 435 shares during the period. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Masco in the third quarter worth $66,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:MAS opened at $72.22 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $15.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.01, a PEG ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.05, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.08. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $47.66 and a 1 year high of $78.94. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $75.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.09.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The construction company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.17. Masco had a return on equity of 3,111.50% and a net margin of 11.40%. The firm had revenue of $1.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.65 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were issued a $0.29 dividend. This is an increase from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 21st. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.93%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Masco in a research note on Friday, January 19th. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Masco from $73.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. StockNews.com downgraded Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Masco from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, April 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $69.62.

Insider Buying and Selling at Masco

In other Masco news, 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 value 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Masco news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 36,210 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $2,703,076.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 58,885 shares in the company, valued at $4,395,765.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total value of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 83,762 shares of company stock valued at $6,337,597. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.