First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. Trims Holdings in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. trimmed its stake in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 4.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 21,754 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 1,073 shares during the period. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.’s holdings in Masco were worth $1,579,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Montecito Bank & Trust raised its stake in shares of Masco by 10.7% in the 4th quarter. Montecito Bank & Trust now owns 13,037 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $946,000 after acquiring an additional 1,259 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Secure Asset Management LLC now owns 6,134 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $445,000 after acquiring an additional 651 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 5.8% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 11,654 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $846,000 after acquiring an additional 634 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Masco by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 28,191 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $2,046,000 after acquiring an additional 775 shares during the period. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Masco by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 11,022 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $800,000 after acquiring an additional 579 shares during the period. 93.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Masco Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE MAS opened at $79.26 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74. Masco Co. has a 52 week low of $63.81 and a 52 week high of $86.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.10 billion, a PE ratio of 21.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.25. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $76.75 and a two-hundred day moving average of $78.20.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.08. Masco had a net margin of 10.54% and a return on equity of 615.54%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.00 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Masco Co. will post 4.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Masco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. Masco’s payout ratio is 30.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Loop Capital lifted their price objective on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Masco from $78.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $86.27.

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.