Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Purchased by Goldstone Financial Group LLC

Goldstone Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 2.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,305 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Goldstone Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $2,794,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the second quarter valued at about $1,155,000. Sienna Gestion boosted its position in Mastercard by 2,869.9% during the 2nd quarter. Sienna Gestion now owns 24,264 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $10,699,000 after purchasing an additional 23,447 shares during the period. Kendall Capital Management grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.8% during the second quarter. Kendall Capital Management now owns 6,101 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,692,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Mathes Company Inc. increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.3% in the second quarter. Mathes Company Inc. now owns 9,386 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $4,141,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the period. Finally, WCG Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 8.3% during the second quarter. WCG Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,093 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $5,776,000 after purchasing an additional 1,001 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mastercard Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of MA stock opened at $523.08 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $480.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $524.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $493.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $425.48 and a 12-month high of $537.70.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.73 by $0.16. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. The firm had revenue of $7.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.39 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, December 17th that permits the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the credit services provider to purchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 10th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.58%. This is a positive change from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays upped their target price on Mastercard from $536.00 to $576.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. KeyCorp raised their target price on Mastercard from $515.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Macquarie upped their price target on Mastercard from $505.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Mastercard from $593.00 to $580.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $566.63.

Mastercard Company Profile

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.