ARS Wealth Advisors Group LLC Lowers Stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

ARS Wealth Advisors Group LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 2.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 29,237 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 825 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for about 2.3% of ARS Wealth Advisors Group LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. ARS Wealth Advisors Group LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $16,025,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC purchased a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. purchased a new position in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, 10Elms LLP purchased a new position in Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on MA. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $633.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Seven 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $610.00.

Mastercard Stock Performance

MA opened at $590.03 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $537.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.48, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $428.86 and a 1-year high of $591.16. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $547.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $541.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03.

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

Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In other news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $534.68, for a total value of $3,813,337.76. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 34,524 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,459,292.32. The trade was a 17.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 14,051 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $585.05, for a total transaction of $8,220,537.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 58,451 shares in the company, valued at $34,196,757.55. This trade represents a 19.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 37,258 shares of company stock valued at $20,885,067. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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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