Sales turn up for Masco

Sales for Masco, the diverse collection of home improvement brands, increased 3% to $1.9 billion in the first quarter. Sales were flat in North America, but increased 16% internationally in dollar currency, the company announced yesterday.

In addition to cost-cutting measures, the Taylor, Mich.-based company pointed to the positive first-quarter impact of increased sales volume of plumbing products and windows, a more favorable product mix of paints and stains, and the improved relationship between selling prices and commodity costs.

Net loss narrowed to $7 million, compared with a loss of $81 million in the same quarter last year.

The company was pleased with its first positive quarterly sales comparison in the last several years, according to CEO Tim Wadhams. "Innovative new products drove market share gains, and we continued to drive strong incremental margins in the quarter."

The company's quarterly report also described continued efforts to run tighter. "We continue to focus on the rationalization of our businesses, including business consolidations, plant closures, headcount reductions, system implementations and other initiatives."

Among the company's diverse collection of brands are Behr, Kilz, Griffin Windows, Delta Faucet, KraftMaid and Brasstech.