Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH Sells 633 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lowered its position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 13.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,164 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 633 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH’s holdings in Masco were worth $302,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Masco during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Masco during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Masco during the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Masco by 59.4% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 596 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of Masco by 26.7% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Up 1.1 %

MAS stock opened at $79.49 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $76.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $77.93. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $63.81 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.83. The company has a market cap of $17.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.00 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MAS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. StockNews.com lowered Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. UBS Group upped their price target on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on Masco from $93.00 to $84.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Nine equities research 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 data from MarketBeat, Masco presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $86.27.

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.