GLOBALT Investments LLC GA Sells 531 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

GLOBALT Investments LLC GA lowered its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 34,722 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 531 shares during the period. GLOBALT Investments LLC GA’s holdings in Masco were worth $2,520,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of MAS. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in Masco by 26.7% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Masco by 74.3% during the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 774 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Up 1.6 %

Masco stock opened at $70.35 on Monday. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $63.81 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The stock has a market cap of $14.91 billion, a PE ratio of 18.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $76.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.83 EPS. Research analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.76%. This is a positive change from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s payout ratio is 32.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Oppenheimer raised 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 note on Friday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and issued a $74.00 price target on shares of Masco in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.32.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,370,678.06. The trade was a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total transaction of $1,658,768.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

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.