Ascent Group LLC Purchases 1,875 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated $MA

Key Points

• Ascent Group LLC increased its stake in Mastercard by 7.5% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 1,875 shares, bringing its total ownership to 26,749 shares valued at approximately $14.66 million.
• Mastercard recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.76, translating to an annualized dividend of $3.04 and a yield of 0.5% with a payout ratio of 20.50%.
• Research analysts have set varied price targets for Mastercard, with Wolfe Research at $655 and KeyCorp at $660, indicating a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $626.54.

Ascent Group LLC lifted its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 7.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 26,749 shares of the credit services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 1,875 shares during the period. Ascent Group LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $14,662,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,218 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $2,313,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Strait & Sound Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,782 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $2,073,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Caxton Associates LLP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,920,000. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 141,299 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $77,449,000 after acquiring an additional 7,034 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Voleon Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Voleon Capital Management LP now owns 40,069 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $21,963,000 after acquiring an additional 915 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wolfe Research set a $655.00 price objective on Mastercard in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. TD Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $645.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, August 11th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on Mastercard from $635.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Wall Street Zen raised Mastercard from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $626.54.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of MA opened at $584.21 on Monday. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $572.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $557.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12 month low of $465.59 and a 12 month high of $601.77. The company has a market cap of $528.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.99.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.05 by $0.10. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%.The business had revenue of $8.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.95 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.50 EPS. The company's revenue was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.50%.

Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In other news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 9,428 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.05, for a total value of $3,328,555.40. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 58,451 shares in the company, valued at $20,636,125.55. This trade represents a 13.89% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 17,816 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $586.89, for a total value of $10,456,032.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 31,234 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,330,922.26. This trade represents a 36.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 59,481 shares of company stock worth $32,616,595. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

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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