Cercano Management LLC Reduces Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Cercano Management LLC decreased its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 93.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,574 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 35,163 shares during the quarter. Cercano Management LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $1,355,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Navigoe LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 62.5% during the fourth quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 65 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MA opened at $560.97 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $532.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $531.92. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $428.86 and a 52 week high of $582.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $511.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.39, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.06.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.57 by $0.16. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. The company had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.31 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is currently 21.32%.

Insider Activity at Mastercard

In related news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $534.68, for a total transaction of $3,813,337.76. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 34,524 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,459,292.32. This represents a 17.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Michael Miebach sold 15,775 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.16, for a total transaction of $8,678,774.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 84,871 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $46,692,629.36. The trade was a 15.67 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MA. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $660.00 to $640.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Barclays lifted their target price on Mastercard from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Susquehanna upped their price target on Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. DZ Bank raised Mastercard from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $620.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $606.25.

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.

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