Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Sold by Headlands Technologies LLC

Key Points

• Headlands Technologies LLC reduced its stake in Mastercard by 62.2% during the first quarter, ending with 1,426 shares valued at approximately $782,000.
• A variety of brokerages have updated their price targets for Mastercard, with the average target now at $615.33 and a strong consensus rating of Moderate Buy.
• Mastercard recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share, reflecting a dividend yield of 0.5%, along with strong earnings results exceeding analysts' expectations.

Headlands Technologies LLC lowered its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 62.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,426 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 2,351 shares during the quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $782,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. acquired a new position in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Navigoe LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. 10Elms LLP acquired a new position in Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard in the first quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard in the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, insider Raj Seshadri sold 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.77, for a total transaction of $601,447.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 12,921 shares in the company, valued at $7,064,815.17. This represents a 7.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Linda Pistecchia Kirkpatrick sold 959 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $572.86, for a total transaction of $549,372.74. Following the transaction, the insider owned 25,540 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,630,844.40. The trade was a 3.62% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 38,453 shares of company stock valued at $20,178,667. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of MA stock traded up $0.29 on Tuesday, reaching $573.88. 2,593,746 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,825,981. The company has a market cap of $518.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.03. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $563.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $553.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.16. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $454.89 and a 1 year high of $594.71.

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

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th were issued a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is currently 20.50%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on MA. Citigroup boosted their price target on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Mastercard from $640.00 to $612.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Macquarie cut their price target on Mastercard from $645.00 to $610.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, June 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $615.33.

Mastercard 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.