Masco (NYSE:MAS) Upgraded to “Buy” by StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Masco (NYSE:MAS) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Masco from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup upped their price target on Masco from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Masco from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Masco in a research note on Friday, January 19th. They set a market perform rating for the company. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price target on Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $71.07.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS opened at $69.87 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $75.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $66.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.76, a current ratio of 1.74 and a quick ratio of 1.08. Masco has a one year low of $47.66 and a one year high of $78.94. The company has a market capitalization of $15.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The construction company reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by $0.06. Masco had a return on equity of 865.37% and a net margin of 11.60%. The firm had revenue of $1.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.87 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Masco will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were issued a $0.29 dividend. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 21st. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.66%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is 28.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Masco

In other Masco news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total value of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total value of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 36,210 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $2,703,076.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 58,885 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,395,765.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 83,762 shares of company stock valued at $6,337,597 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Masco

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Masco by 35.3% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 59,792 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,005,000 after acquiring an additional 15,591 shares during the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System grew its position in Masco by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 229,507 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $15,372,000 after acquiring an additional 18,140 shares during the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management grew its position in Masco by 264.5% during the 4th quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 18,219 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,220,000 after acquiring an additional 13,221 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in Masco by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 344,141 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $23,051,000 after acquiring an additional 21,165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new stake in Masco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,606,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Masco

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.