Kestra Investment Management LLC Acquires Shares of 414 Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 414 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $30,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MAS. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 257.3% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,637 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $221,000 after acquiring an additional 1,899 shares in the last quarter. McAdam LLC bought a new position in shares of Masco during the third quarter valued at approximately $208,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Masco by 13,069.3% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 29,631 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,487,000 after acquiring an additional 29,406 shares in the last quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Masco during the third quarter valued at approximately $330,000. Finally, Grimes & Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of Masco during the third quarter valued at approximately $219,000. Institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Trading Down 1.9 %

NYSE MAS opened at $74.82 on Friday. Masco Co. has a 12 month low of $63.81 and a 12 month high of $86.70. The stock has a market cap of $15.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.25. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $76.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $78.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its earnings results 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 period in the previous year, the company earned $0.83 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.66%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.85%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on MAS. Barclays upped their target price on Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Citigroup reduced 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. Loop Capital upped their price target on Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Oppenheimer raised Masco from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $89.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Masco presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $86.32.

About Masco

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.