NEOS Investment Management LLC Buys 2,484 Shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

NEOS Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) by 28.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,107 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,484 shares during the quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Masco were worth $806,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Masco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Masco during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Masco during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its stake in shares of Masco by 26.7% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 703 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. 93.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Keith J. Allman sold 21,723 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.36, for a total transaction of $1,658,768.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 60,267 shares in the company, valued at $4,601,988.12. This represents a 26.49 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Renee Straber sold 3,139 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.78, for a total value of $225,317.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 33,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,370,678.06. This trade represents a 8.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Masco Price Performance

Shares of MAS opened at $68.63 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $75.24 and a 200-day moving average of $77.92. 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 $14.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.24. Masco Co. has a 1 year low of $63.81 and a 1 year high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its quarterly 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 net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.83 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.81%. This is a boost from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Masco’s dividend payout ratio is 32.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on MAS. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Masco from $82.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $96.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Zelman & Associates upgraded shares of Masco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Masco from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $86.32.

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.