Short Interest in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Decreases By 19.8%

Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,940,000 shares, a drop of 19.8% from the April 30th total of 7,410,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,430,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.4 days. Approximately 2.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $80.00 target price (down from $91.00) on shares of Masco in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Loop Capital set a $62.00 target price on Masco and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Masco in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $71.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $73.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $73.63.

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 completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This represents a 8.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Masco

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 120.2% in the 1st quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 381 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Alpine Bank Wealth Management bought a new position in Masco in the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Costello Asset Management INC bought a new stake in Masco during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Trading Down 0.1%

MAS traded down $0.09 on Thursday, reaching $63.28. 1,931,002 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,804,462. The company has a market cap of $13.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. Masco has a one year low of $56.55 and a one year high of $86.70. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $71.30.

Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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). The firm had revenue of $1.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.84 billion. Masco had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.93 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Masco will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 9th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.96%. Masco's payout ratio is currently 33.88%.

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.