Vinva Investment Management Ltd Boosts Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Vinva Investment Management Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 13.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 11,530 shares of the construction company’s stock after buying an additional 1,410 shares during the quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd’s holdings in Masco were worth $836,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MAS. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the 3rd quarter worth $292,000. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Masco by 21.5% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 26,415 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,217,000 after purchasing an additional 4,668 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in shares of Masco by 190.9% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 209,867 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $17,616,000 after purchasing an additional 137,722 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC increased its position in shares of Masco by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 21,521 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,806,000 after purchasing an additional 3,840 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise increased its position in shares of Masco by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 12,260 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,029,000 after purchasing an additional 498 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of Masco stock opened at $70.42 on Friday. Masco Co. has a one year low of $63.81 and a one year high of $86.70. The company has a market cap of $14.93 billion, a PE ratio of 18.73, 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 quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.75. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $75.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a return on equity of 838.32% and a net margin of 10.50%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.83 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.76%. Masco’s payout ratio is presently 32.98%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total transaction of $225,317.42. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at $2,370,678.06. The trade was a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,601,988.12. The trade was a 26.49 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MAS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays raised their price objective on Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $74.00 price objective on shares of Masco in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $86.32.

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.