GAMMA Investing LLC Grows Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 9.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,732 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 686 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $561,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of MAS. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in Masco by 956.3% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 989,640 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $83,070,000 after buying an additional 895,950 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Masco by 66.5% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,823,934 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $121,581,000 after purchasing an additional 728,690 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in shares of Masco by 86.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 634,740 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $42,318,000 after purchasing an additional 294,409 shares during the period. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in Masco by 49.2% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 883,859 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $74,192,000 after purchasing an additional 291,658 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its stake in Masco by 89.5% in the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 579,597 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $38,642,000 after purchasing an additional 273,718 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Masco Stock Performance

NYSE:MAS opened at $72.20 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $15.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.20, a PEG ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50 day moving average of $78.06 and a 200 day moving average of $77.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.21. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $63.60 and a 1-year high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. The company had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2 billion. Masco had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 615.54%. The firm’s revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.00 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Masco Co. will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $85.00 target price (down from $92.00) on shares of Masco in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on Masco from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Masco has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $85.88.

Masco 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.