Masco Corp.

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Tuesday’s stocks were looking up at the day’s close, with four companies (AWI, BXC, MAS and SSD) posting gains of +3% or higher.

Stocks pushed ahead on Wednesday, especially BLDR, EXP and MAS.

Masco (MAS) was among many stocks buoyed by the upsurge on Tuesday, posting gains of 4.11%.

MAS rose nearly 11% following the release of its quarterly earnings report.

Taylor, Mich.-based Masco Corp. reported third-quarter sales of $2 billion, up 3% from the same quarter last year. Masco's net income was $36 million for the quarter, compared with a net loss of $5 million in the third quarter of 2010.

CEO Tim Wadhams said the top line was lifted by "strong sales of plumbing-related products driven by share gains of our Hansgrohe and Delta brands, share gains in our Installation segment and foreign currency translation."

The 2011 International Builders’ Show returned to Orlando, Fla., in 2011 — it was held here in 2008 — and it was a lot easier to get a taxi this time around. The residential construction industry was fresh off a year only slightly better than the record low of 2009, and the show’s contraction reflected the industry’s health.