Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Has $11.01 Million Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. decreased its holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 3.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 151,700 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 5,813 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.07% of Masco worth $11,009,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Masco in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Masco during the third quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Masco during the third quarter worth $43,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Stock Performance

Shares of MAS opened at $74.70 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $15.83 billion, a PE ratio of 19.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.25. 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 one year low of $63.81 and a one year high of $86.70. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $76.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $78.79.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted 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 period last year, the firm earned $0.83 EPS. As a group, analysts expect 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 will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This is a positive change from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.66%. Masco’s payout ratio is 32.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $74.00 price objective on shares of Masco in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Zelman & Associates raised shares of Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of 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 research 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $86.32.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total transaction of $1,658,768.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 60,267 shares in the company, valued at $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.