Claro Advisors LLC Trims Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Claro Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 20.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,236 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 2,695 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $743,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH increased its stake in Masco by 16.6% in the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH now owns 6,425 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $466,000 after purchasing an additional 916 shares during the period. Czech National Bank increased its stake in Masco by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 46,779 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,395,000 after purchasing an additional 2,320 shares during the period. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Iowa State Bank increased its stake in Masco by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Iowa State Bank now owns 50,751 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $3,683,000 after purchasing an additional 287 shares during the period. Finally, CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its stake in Masco by 26.9% in the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 31,887 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $2,314,000 after purchasing an additional 6,768 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MAS opened at $73.52 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.83. The company has a market cap of $15.86 billion, a PE ratio of 19.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $77.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $77.39. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $63.81 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.08. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2 billion. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.58%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is presently 30.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Citigroup cut their price target on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Masco currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $86.96.

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.