Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Sold by Avitas Wealth Management LLC

Avitas Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,911 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 122 shares during the quarter. Mastercard comprises approximately 0.9% of Avitas Wealth Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Avitas Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $6,272,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MA. Czech National Bank grew its position in Mastercard by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 167,963 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $82,940,000 after purchasing an additional 11,513 shares during the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 7,988 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,944,000 after purchasing an additional 1,159 shares during the last quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. grew its position in Mastercard by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. now owns 64,154 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $31,679,000 after purchasing an additional 628 shares during the last quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its position in Mastercard by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 3,068 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,515,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in Mastercard by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 895 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $442,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Mastercard Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $559.21 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The company has a market capitalization of $513.26 billion, a PE ratio of 40.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.10. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $529.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $502.60. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $428.86 and a 12-month high of $576.94.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.71% and a return on equity of 188.47%. Equities analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 16.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. This is an increase from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 10th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.89%.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MA. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $584.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, January 31st. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $496.00 to $532.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Mastercard has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $603.08.

About Mastercard

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.