Arjuna Capital Sells 718 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Arjuna Capital decreased its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 10.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,457 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 718 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up 1.0% of Arjuna Capital's portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Arjuna Capital's holdings in Mastercard were worth $3,539,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Navigoe LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 10Elms LLP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Mastercard Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of NYSE:MA traded up $5.08 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $555.26. 1,151,964 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,854,109. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $428.86 and a 52-week high of $594.71. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $568.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $547.84. The company has a market capitalization of $506.24 billion, a PE ratio of 38.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.02.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.57 by $0.16. Mastercard had a return on equity of 196.87% and a net margin of 45.21%. The business had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.31 earnings per share. Mastercard's quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 9th. Mastercard's payout ratio is 21.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other news, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $570.67, for a total value of $178,049.04. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,469 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,833,004.23. This trade represents a 3.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Raj Seshadri sold 1,100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.77, for a total value of $601,447.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 12,921 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,064,815.17. This represents a 7.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 38,753 shares of company stock valued at $20,351,084. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on MA. Monness Crespi & Hardt lowered Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. UBS Group upped their target price on Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Macquarie lowered their target price on Mastercard from $645.00 to $610.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $633.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Evercore ISI started coverage on Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set an "in-line" rating and a $550.00 target price for the company. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $611.50.

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.