Insider Selling: Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) VP Sells $225,317.42 in Stock

Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of Masco stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total transaction of $225,317.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 33,027 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Masco Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:MAS opened at $70.35 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $76.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.47. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $63.81 and a 1 year high of $86.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The company has a market capitalization of $14.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) 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 last year, the company posted $0.83 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was 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 1.76%. Masco’s payout ratio is presently 32.98%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Zelman & Associates raised Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. UBS Group cut their price target on Masco from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.32.

Institutional Trading of Masco

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Masco in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. bought a new position in Masco in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Masco during the third quarter worth about $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

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.