Stifel Financial Corp Acquires 22,901 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Stifel Financial Corp boosted its stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 9.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 265,915 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 22,901 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp owned 0.12% of Masco worth $19,297,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in Masco by 17.3% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 901 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Trust Co. grew its position in shares of Masco by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 8,089 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $587,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Masco by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,921 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,301,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, Keybank National Association OH boosted its stake in Masco by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 4,165 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Masco from $72.00 to $70.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Oppenheimer raised Masco from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $89.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $80.00 price target (down from $91.00) on shares of Masco in a report on Thursday. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $71.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Masco from $74.00 to $62.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $73.10.

Masco Stock Performance

MAS stock opened at $60.41 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $56.55 and a 1 year high of $86.70. The company has a market cap of $12.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $68.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $75.00.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The construction company reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.92 by ($0.05). Masco had a return on equity of 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. The firm had revenue of $1.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.84 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm 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. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This is an increase from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.05%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.98%.

Insider Transactions at Masco

In other news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 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 value of $1,658,768.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. This trade represents a 26.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.50% 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.