UBS Group Cuts Masco (NYSE:MAS) Price Target to $91.00

Masco (NYSE:MAS) had its target price lowered by UBS Group from $94.00 to $91.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the construction company’s stock.

Several other research firms have also commented on MAS. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Masco from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $89.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $85.58.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of MAS stock opened at $76.71 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $16.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.40, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50 day moving average of $76.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $78.70. Masco has a 52 week low of $63.81 and a 52 week high of $86.70. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.83 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Masco will post 4.09 EPS for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.62%. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.85%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Masco

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Masco by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,031 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $170,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Masco by 0.3% during the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 44,940 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,756,000 after buying an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its position in Masco by 1.9% in the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 7,031 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $590,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in shares of Masco by 17.3% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 901 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Equitable Trust Co. lifted its position in shares of Masco by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 8,089 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $587,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.