5,096 Shares in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Acquired by Stevens Capital Management LP

Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 5,096 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $341,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MAS. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 35.3% in the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 59,792 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $4,005,000 after acquiring an additional 15,591 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 8.6% in the fourth quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 229,507 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $15,372,000 after acquiring an additional 18,140 shares in the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 264.5% in the fourth quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 18,219 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,220,000 after acquiring an additional 13,221 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 6.6% in the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 344,141 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $23,051,000 after acquiring an additional 21,165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new stake in shares of Masco in the fourth quarter valued at about $2,606,000. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of MAS stock traded down $0.02 on Friday, hitting $69.85. 1,921,758 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,080,258. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $47.66 and a 1-year high of $78.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.76, a current ratio of 1.74 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The company’s fifty day moving average is $75.23 and its 200 day moving average is $66.76. The company has a market capitalization of $15.41 billion, a PE ratio of 17.13, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The construction company reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.87 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MAS shares. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Masco from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Masco from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com upgraded Masco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, 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. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $71.07.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 in the company, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Masco news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares in the company, valued at $806,328.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 36,210 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 sale, the vice president now owns 58,885 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,395,765.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 83,762 shares of company stock valued at $6,337,597. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.