Masco (NYSE:MAS) Downgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com lowered shares of Masco (NYSE:MAS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning.

MAS has been the topic of several other reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on Masco from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective 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. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Masco from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Oppenheimer assumed coverage on shares of Masco in a research note on Friday, January 19th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $72.15.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MAS opened at $69.54 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $15.32 billion, a PE ratio of 17.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.28. Masco has a 52 week low of $47.66 and a 52 week high of $78.94. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $74.68 and its 200-day moving average is $67.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.76, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.74.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The construction company reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.06. Masco had a return on equity of 865.37% and a net margin of 11.60%. The company had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.94 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.87 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Masco will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 22nd were paid a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 21st. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. This is an increase from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is presently 28.43%.

Insider Activity at Masco

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masco

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MAS. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Masco by 62.4% during the first 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 period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Masco by 70.1% during the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 432 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the fourth quarter valued at $39,000. Union Savings Bank raised its stake in Masco by 91.7% in the fourth quarter. Union Savings Bank now owns 575 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted 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 acquiring an additional 500 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.