Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. Raises Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 5.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 165,590 shares of the construction company's stock after acquiring an additional 8,725 shares during the quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.08% of Masco worth $12,017,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MGO One Seven LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter worth about $207,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Masco by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 316,935 shares of the construction company's stock worth $23,001,000 after acquiring an additional 4,420 shares in the last quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co lifted its position in Masco by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 24,901 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,807,000 after acquiring an additional 1,051 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in Masco by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 265,915 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $19,297,000 after acquiring an additional 22,901 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. grew its stake in Masco by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 17,203 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,248,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total transaction of $225,317.42. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,370,678.06. This represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total value of $1,658,768.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Masco Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE MAS traded down $0.56 on Wednesday, reaching $59.90. 522,559 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,727,524. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $67.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $74.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. The company has a market cap of $12.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $56.55 and a 12 month high of $86.70.

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

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.31 dividend. This is a positive change from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.07%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. Masco's dividend payout ratio is presently 33.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on MAS. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Masco from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Loop Capital set a $62.00 target price on shares of Masco and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Masco from $72.00 to $70.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Masco from $82.00 to $71.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Masco from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $89.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Masco currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $73.10.

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.