GAMMA Investing LLC Grows Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 19.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,007 shares of the credit services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,493 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up 0.6% of GAMMA Investing LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. GAMMA Investing LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $8,226,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MA. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Navigoe LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, 10Elms LLP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $569.45, for a total value of $85,417.50. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,555 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,024,394.75. This trade represents a 4.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 9,428 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 58,451 shares in the company, valued at $20,636,125.55. This trade represents a 13.89% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 36,383 shares of company stock valued at $19,035,108. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of Mastercard stock traded up $6.21 during trading on Friday, hitting $552.02. 3,836,616 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,661,414. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $594.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $503.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.71, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $563.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $545.44.

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

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company 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 $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. Mastercard's payout ratio is 21.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, June 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $633.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. UBS Group increased their price objective on Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Citigroup increased 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. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, June 14th. Seven equities research 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average 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.