Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is iA Global Asset Management Inc.’s 9th Largest Position

iA Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 14.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 260,577 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 33,111 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises 2.4% of iA Global Asset Management Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. iA Global Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $137,212,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $513,000. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its position in Mastercard by 47.6% during the fourth quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 427,116 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $224,906,000 after acquiring an additional 137,815 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson lifted its position in Mastercard by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 2,561 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,349,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,400,000. Finally, GCQ FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY Ltd purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,355,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Mastercard Stock Up 1.1 %

MA stock opened at $535.93 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $488.61 billion, a PE ratio of 38.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $546.56 and its 200 day moving average is $523.92. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $428.86 and a one year high of $582.23.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 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%. On average, research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 21.89%.

Mastercard declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, December 17th that authorizes the company to buyback $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to purchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. DZ Bank raised shares of Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $620.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Tigress Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and set a $640.00 price target (up previously from $614.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and set a $635.00 price target (up previously from $591.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $606.11.

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.