Distillate Capital Partners LLC Makes New $15.66 Million Investment in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Distillate Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 215,815 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,662,000. Distillate Capital Partners LLC owned approximately 0.10% of Masco as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MAS. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Masco in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter worth $42,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 26.7% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Stock Up 0.3 %

MAS opened at $61.86 on Friday. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $57.27 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The company has a market capitalization of $13.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $71.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $76.49.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 last year, the firm earned $0.83 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.00%. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is 32.98%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. UBS Group lowered their price objective on Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Masco from $87.00 to $75.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $84.50.

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.