Brokerages Set Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Price Target at $83.37

Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the sixteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Nine equities 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 company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $83.37.

MAS has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Masco from $87.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Masco in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They set a "hold" rating and a $71.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. 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. Finally, Zelman & Associates raised shares of Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th.

Insider Activity

In other Masco news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total transaction of $225,317.42. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 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 sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masco

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ledyard National Bank grew its stake in shares of Masco by 9.1% in the first quarter. Ledyard National Bank now owns 54,214 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $3,770,000 after buying an additional 4,507 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Masco by 11.0% in the first quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 86,131 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $5,990,000 after buying an additional 8,508 shares in the last quarter. Praxis Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Masco by 148.2% in the first quarter. Praxis Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,050 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $490,000 after buying an additional 4,210 shares in the last quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors grew its stake in shares of Masco by 1.7% in the first quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors now owns 18,467 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $1,311,000 after buying an additional 306 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Masco by 120.2% in the first quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 381 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Masco Stock Up 1.1 %

MAS traded up $0.68 during trading on Friday, hitting $62.11. The stock had a trading volume of 1,708,682 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,721,336. The company has a market capitalization of $13.15 billion, a PE ratio of 16.52, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. Masco has a twelve month low of $56.22 and a twelve month high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $69.27 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $75.42.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The construction company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.93 by ($0.06). Masco had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. On average, research analysts predict that Masco will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company 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 represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.00%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This is an increase from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.98%.

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.