KBC Group NV Lowers Stake in Masco Corporation $MAS

KBC Group NV reduced its position in Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) by 25.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 739,008 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 249,167 shares during the period. KBC Group NV owned approximately 0.35% of Masco worth $47,562,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Costello Asset Management INC acquired a new position in Masco during the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Masco in the first quarter worth $33,000. Steph & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Masco in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Masco during the 1st quarter valued at $50,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in Masco by 716.0% during the 2nd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 865 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 759 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.91% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Masco

In other Masco news, CAO Heath M. Eisman sold 2,431 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.62, for a total transaction of $181,401.22. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 12,036 shares in the company, valued at approximately $898,126.32. The trade was a 16.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Jai Shah sold 82,910 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.04, for a total transaction of $6,304,476.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 39,638 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,014,073.52. This trade represents a 67.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Baird R W lowered Masco from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Robert W. Baird downgraded Masco from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Masco from $80.00 to $70.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Masco from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of Masco from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $73.53.

Masco Price Performance

MAS opened at $62.49 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.53. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $68.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.24. Masco Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $56.55 and a fifty-two week high of $83.06. The firm has a market cap of $12.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.17.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.02 by ($0.05). Masco had a return on equity of 1,317.38% and a net margin of 10.89%.The company had revenue of $1.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.08 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. Masco has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.900-3.95 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Masco Corporation will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be given a dividend of $0.31 per share. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 7th. Masco’s payout ratio is 31.79%.

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.