Vontobel Holding Ltd. Lowers Stock Position in Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS)

Vontobel Holding Ltd. cut its holdings in shares of Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) by 25.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 82,784 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 27,989 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Masco were worth $5,757,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its position in Masco by 120.2% in the 1st quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 381 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. Alpine Bank Wealth Management purchased a new position in Masco in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. purchased a new position in Masco in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. GeoWealth Management LLC grew its position in Masco by 89.0% in the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 684 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its position in Masco by 74.3% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 774 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Stock Up 0.3%

NYSE:MAS opened at $67.28 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $14.19 billion, a PE ratio of 18.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.19. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $63.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $69.15. Masco Corporation has a 52-week low of $56.55 and a 52-week high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The construction company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.92 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $1.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.84 billion. Masco had a net margin of 10.30% and a return on equity of 1,320.76%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.93 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Masco Corporation will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were issued a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 23rd. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 33.88%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $80.00 price objective (down from $91.00) on shares of Masco in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $73.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Loop Capital set a $62.00 target price on shares of Masco and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Barclays set a $71.00 target price on shares of Masco and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $71.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $73.63.

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.