Signet Financial Management LLC Sells 370 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Signet Financial Management LLC reduced its position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 51,166 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 370 shares during the quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $3,427,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Center for Financial Planning Inc. lifted its position in Masco by 270.6% during the third quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 667 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 487 shares during the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Masco during the fourth quarter worth approximately $44,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 70.6% during the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,051 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 435 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Masco in the 3rd quarter worth about $66,000. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Masco Stock Performance

MAS stock traded down $0.96 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $72.10. 683,651 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,025,809. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.05, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market cap of $15.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.22, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.25. Masco Co. has a 1-year low of $47.66 and a 1-year high of $78.94. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $75.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $65.87.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The construction company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $1.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.79 billion. Masco had a net margin of 11.40% and a return on equity of 3,111.50%. The company’s revenue was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.65 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were paid a $0.29 dividend. This is an increase from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 21st. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.93%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MAS has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Masco from $65.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Masco from $73.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Masco from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of Masco in a research report on Friday, January 19th. They issued a “market perform” rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $69.62.

Insider Transactions at Masco

In other Masco news, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of Masco stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $806,328.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Masco news, VP Kenneth G. Cole sold 36,210 shares of Masco stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $2,703,076.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 58,885 shares in the company, valued at $4,395,765.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Richard Allan Marshall sold 5,000 shares of Masco stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.05, for a total transaction of $385,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 10,465 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $806,328.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 83,762 shares of company stock valued at $6,337,597. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

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.