Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Sold by Empower Advisory Group LLC

Key Points

• Empower Advisory Group LLC reduced its stake in Mastercard by 15.0% during Q1, now holding 361,958 shares worth approximately $198.4 million.
• Analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for Mastercard with a average price target of $615.33, reflecting strong market confidence.
• Mastercard recently declared a $0.76 quarterly dividend, with an annualized yield of 0.5% and a payout ratio of 20.50%.

Empower Advisory Group LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 15.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 361,958 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 63,990 shares during the quarter. Mastercard comprises 0.6% of Empower Advisory Group LLC's holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Empower Advisory Group LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $198,397,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MA. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Navigoe LLC bought a new stake 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 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 1st 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 $36,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Down 1.4%

Mastercard stock traded down $7.78 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $561.35. The stock had a trading volume of 2,979,577 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,598,424. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $564.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $552.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $511.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.85, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.03. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $451.03 and a one year high of $594.71.

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

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 9th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is 20.50%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Mastercard from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Wolfe Research set a $655.00 price target on Mastercard in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Macquarie dropped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $645.00 to $610.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Seaport Res Ptn raised Mastercard from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $615.33.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In related news, insider Raj Seshadri sold 1,100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $546.77, for a total value of $601,447.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 12,921 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,064,815.17. This represents a 7.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $570.67, for a total transaction of $178,049.04. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,469 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,833,004.23. The trade was a 3.55% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 38,603 shares of company stock valued at $20,265,667 in the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by 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.