Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Sold by Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co.

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. cut its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 11.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 14,271 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 1,847 shares during the period. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co.’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $7,515,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MA. Highline Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. First Personal Financial Services purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the third quarter worth $54,000. Raelipskie Partnership increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 120.0% in the third quarter. Raelipskie Partnership now owns 110 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard in the third quarter valued at $55,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Mastercard Trading Down 1.8 %

Mastercard stock opened at $555.63 on Monday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $428.86 and a 52 week high of $576.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $509.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $528.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $501.43.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. Research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 16.04 EPS for the current year.

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

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 10th. This is an increase from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is 21.89%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MA shares. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $536.00 to $576.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Seaport Res Ptn lowered shares of Mastercard from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Susquehanna increased their price objective on Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Friday. Citigroup lifted their target price on Mastercard from $584.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $640.00 price target (up from $614.00) on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $595.64.

Mastercard 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.