Calamos Advisors LLC Boosts Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Calamos Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 0.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 272,729 shares of the credit services provider's stock after buying an additional 2,213 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises 0.7% of Calamos Advisors LLC's holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Calamos Advisors LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $149,488,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Aviance Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,522 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $5,768,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 6,956.4% during the 1st quarter. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. now owns 27,026 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $14,813,000 after purchasing an additional 26,643 shares in the last quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,605 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $4,717,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 8,869 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $4,861,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Values Added Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Values Added Financial LLC now owns 1,272 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $697,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of MA stock traded up $5.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $566.53. 1,528,739 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,668,807. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market cap of $516.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.02. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $428.86 and a 52-week high of $594.71. The stock's fifty day moving average is $566.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $546.25.

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

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.32%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $580.00, for a total value of $87,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 3,255 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,887,900. This represents a 4.41% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 14,051 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $585.05, for a total value of $8,220,537.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 58,451 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $34,196,757.55. This represents a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 38,441 shares of company stock worth $20,173,035. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, June 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $633.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set an "in-line" rating and a $550.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Tigress Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Mastercard currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $611.50.

About Mastercard

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.