Masco (NYSE:MAS) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Buy

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

Several other brokerages have also recently commented on MAS. Argus boosted their price target on Masco from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Masco from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. TheStreet cut Masco from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, August 28th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Masco from $60.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on Masco from $66.00 to $74.00 in a report on Friday, July 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $62.58.

Masco Stock Up 0.7 %

Masco stock opened at $55.88 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.58 billion, a PE ratio of 15.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.23. Masco has a 12 month low of $42.33 and a 12 month high of $63.85. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $58.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $54.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 420.86, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.07.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.23. Masco had a negative return on equity of 403.37% and a net margin of 9.73%. The firm had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.08 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Masco will post 3.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 28th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were paid a dividend of $0.285 per share. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. Masco’s payout ratio is 32.20%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Masco

In other Masco news, VP Renee Straber sold 41,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.13, for a total value of $2,518,556.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 31,995 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,955,854.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Masco news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 188,040 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.77, for a total value of $11,239,150.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 200,305 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,972,229.85. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 41,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.13, for a total value of $2,518,556.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 31,995 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,955,854.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Masco

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Accel Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 65.8% in the 1st quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 761 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 302 shares during the period. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Masco by 45.7% in the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 854 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 268 shares during the period. 91.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.