Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) Shares Sold by Truist Financial Corp

Truist Financial Corp decreased its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 58,751 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 1,523 shares during the quarter. Truist Financial Corp’s holdings in Masco were worth $4,264,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in Masco by 13,069.3% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 29,631 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,487,000 after buying an additional 29,406 shares during the last quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Masco during the third quarter worth about $330,000. IFM Investors Pty Ltd lifted its position in Masco by 3.1% in the third quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 48,426 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $4,065,000 after purchasing an additional 1,478 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in Masco during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $206,000. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 5,997 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $503,000 after buying an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of MAS opened at $74.82 on Monday. Masco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $63.81 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $76.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $78.80. 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 company has a market capitalization of $15.86 billion, a PE ratio of 19.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $0.31 dividend. 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 currently 30.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and set a $74.00 price objective on shares of Masco in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Zelman & Associates upgraded shares of Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average 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.