abrdn plc boosted its stake in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS - Free Report) by 63.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 97,052 shares of the construction company's stock after purchasing an additional 37,639 shares during the period. abrdn plc's holdings in Masco were worth $6,501,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of MAS. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in Masco by 15.4% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,320,936 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $284,404,000 after acquiring an additional 711,988 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Masco by 1,307.8% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 686,794 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $36,708,000 after acquiring an additional 638,010 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Masco by 443.5% during the 3rd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 502,157 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $26,829,000 after acquiring an additional 409,767 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its stake in Masco by 87.3% during the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 815,888 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $43,609,000 after acquiring an additional 380,267 shares during the period. Finally, Yacktman Asset Management LP acquired a new stake in Masco during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $19,542,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company's stock.
Masco Price Performance
Shares of Masco stock traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $69.85. 1,921,762 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,858,241. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $47.66 and a 1 year high of $78.94. The company has a market capitalization of $15.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a fifty day moving average of $75.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $67.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.76.
Masco (NYSE:MAS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The construction company reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.87 by $0.06. Masco had a net margin of 11.60% and a return on equity of 865.37%. The business had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.94 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.87 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Masco Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This is a positive change from Masco's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 21st. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.66%. Masco's dividend payout ratio is presently 28.43%.
Insider Transactions at Masco
In other news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares of the company's stock, valued at $806,328.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 36,210 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $2,703,076.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 58,885 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,395,765.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 10,465 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 83,762 shares of company stock valued at $6,337,597 over the last 90 days. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Loop Capital decreased their target price on shares of Masco from $79.00 to $76.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Masco from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Masco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Masco from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Masco from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $72.15.
View Our Latest Analysis on MAS
About Masco
(
Free Report)
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.
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