Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Shares Sold by Cresset Asset Management LLC

Cresset Asset Management LLC lowered its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 42.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 54,305 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 39,997 shares during the quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC's holdings in Masco were worth $3,941,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Masco in the 4th quarter valued at about $129,306,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Masco in the fourth quarter valued at about $33,157,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Masco in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,678,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 14.7% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,821,629 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $204,766,000 after purchasing an additional 360,931 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV raised its position in shares of Masco by 91.6% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 708,830 shares of the construction company's stock worth $51,440,000 after purchasing an additional 338,925 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on MAS shares. Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Masco from $82.00 to $65.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Barclays set a $71.00 price objective on Masco and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Loop Capital set a $62.00 target price on shares of Masco and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Masco from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $73.10.

Masco Trading Up 0.6%

Masco stock traded up $0.38 during trading on Friday, reaching $62.09. The company had a trading volume of 2,510,898 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,760,258. Masco Co. has a 12-month low of $56.55 and a 12-month high of $86.70. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $65.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $73.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.51, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The construction company reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.92 by ($0.05). Masco had a return on equity of 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. The firm had revenue of $1.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.84 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.93 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.31 dividend. This is an increase from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.00%. Masco's dividend payout ratio is presently 33.88%.

Insider Transactions at Masco

In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. The trade was a 8.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total transaction of $1,658,768.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,601,988.12. The trade was a 26.49% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Masco 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.