Masco (NYSE:MAS) Downgraded to “Hold” Rating by Jefferies Financial Group

Masco (NYSE:MAS) was downgraded by stock analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $89.00 target price on the construction company’s stock, down from their prior target price of $96.00. Jefferies Financial Group’s target price would indicate a potential upside of 16.23% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Masco from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Masco from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. StockNews.com cut Masco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Masco from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Masco from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Masco presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $85.88.

Masco Stock Down 1.6 %

MAS stock opened at $76.57 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $80.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $76.71. The company has a market cap of $16.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.83. Masco has a fifty-two week low of $63.60 and a fifty-two week high of $86.70.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The construction company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.08. Masco had a return on equity of 615.54% and a net margin of 10.54%. The company had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.00 earnings per share. Masco’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Masco will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Masco

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Masco during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Masco during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in Masco in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. LRI Investments LLC grew its stake in Masco by 850.8% in the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 599 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 536 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Masco during the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.