Earnest Partners LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Masco Corporation $MAS

Key Points

• Earnest Partners LLC has reduced its stake in Masco Corporation by 0.2%, now holding approximately 2.3 million shares valued at $160.3 million.
• Various institutional investors, including Vanguard Group and Invesco, increased their stakes in Masco during the first quarter, demonstrating ongoing interest in the company despite the reduction by Earnest Partners.
• Masco's quarterly earnings topped estimates with a reported EPS of $1.30, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.08, and the company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share.

Earnest Partners LLC trimmed its stake in Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 0.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,304,646 shares of the construction company's stock after selling 5,036 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC owned about 1.09% of Masco worth $160,265,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MAS. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Masco by 120.2% during the 1st quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 381 shares of the construction company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares during the period. Alpine Bank Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Masco during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Costello Asset Management INC acquired a new stake in Masco during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired a new stake in Masco during the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Masco during the 1st quarter worth about $50,000. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Masco

In related news, insider Jai Shah sold 82,910 shares of Masco stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.04, for a total value of $6,304,476.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 39,638 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,014,073.52. The trade was a 67.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Heath M. Eisman sold 2,431 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.62, for a total transaction of $181,401.22. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 12,036 shares of the company's stock, valued at $898,126.32. This trade represents a 16.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Masco Stock Down 0.2%

NYSE MAS traded down $0.12 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $73.43. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,098,482 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,327,049. Masco Corporation has a 52 week low of $56.55 and a 52 week high of $86.70. The company has a market capitalization of $15.37 billion, a PE ratio of 19.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.63. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $68.57 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $67.23.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The construction company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $2.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2 billion. Masco had a net margin of 10.51% and a return on equity of 1,519.31%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.20 EPS. Masco has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.900-4.100 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Masco Corporation will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th were paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 8th. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.89%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on MAS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Masco from $65.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Barclays increased their price target on Masco from $77.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Robert W. Baird cut shares of Masco from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $70.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Loop Capital reissued a "hold" rating and set a $73.00 price objective (up previously from $62.00) on shares of Masco in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Masco from $62.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and eleven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $74.13.

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.