MML Investors Services LLC Acquires 4,181 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

MML Investors Services LLC increased its position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 5.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 83,978 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,181 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Masco were worth $6,094,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Masco by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 57,097 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $4,144,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares in the last quarter. Natixis bought a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter valued at $1,192,000. Norinchukin Bank The boosted its holdings in Masco by 10.1% in the fourth quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 10,261 shares of the construction company's stock worth $745,000 after purchasing an additional 938 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Masco by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,224,244 shares of the construction company's stock worth $88,845,000 after buying an additional 30,915 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the fourth quarter worth about $221,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Masco news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of Masco stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. The trade was a 8.68 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS traded down $0.60 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $59.87. The stock had a trading volume of 383,408 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,726,849. Masco Co. has a twelve month low of $56.55 and a twelve month high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The business's fifty day moving average is $67.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $74.62. The company has a market cap of $12.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.91, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24.

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 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 business had revenue of $1.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.93 earnings per share. Masco's revenue was down 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current 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 issued a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This is a boost 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%. Masco's dividend payout ratio is presently 33.88%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MAS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Masco in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a "hold" rating and a $71.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Masco from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Zelman & Associates raised shares of Masco to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Masco from $92.00 to $75.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Masco from $74.00 to $62.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus 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.