Masco (NYSE:MAS) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Masco (NYSE:MAS) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Thursday morning.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on MAS. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Masco from $89.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Masco from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Masco has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $85.96.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of Masco stock traded up $1.20 during trading on Thursday, reaching $81.44. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 786,355 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,802,050. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. Masco has a 12-month low of $55.13 and a 12-month high of $86.70. The company has a market capitalization of $17.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $81.71 and a 200-day moving average price of $74.77.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. The company had revenue of $1.98 billion for 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%. Masco’s quarterly revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.00 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Masco will post 4.1 EPS for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.42%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.85%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Masco news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 37,814 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.32, for a total value of $2,961,592.48. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 36,980 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,896,273.60. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Masco

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MAS. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. bought a new stake in shares of Masco in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Masco in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Family Firm Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Masco in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in shares of Masco by 46.0% in the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 568 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of Masco in the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.