Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt Reduces Stock Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lessened its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 25.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,840 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 9,200 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up about 0.8% of Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt's portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt's holdings in Mastercard were worth $14,705,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MA. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,179,138 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $40,640,219,000 after acquiring an additional 377,302 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 22,267,937 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $11,725,627,000 after buying an additional 912,856 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 18,657,792 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $9,800,202,000 after buying an additional 282,739 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at about $6,022,224,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Mastercard by 9.1% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 9,760,740 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $5,139,713,000 after buying an additional 817,836 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $633.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Macquarie cut their price target on shares of Mastercard from $645.00 to $610.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set an "in-line" rating and a $550.00 price target on the stock. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $610.00.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of MA traded up $1.24 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $590.78. 2,238,068 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,605,271. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $538.62 billion, a PE ratio of 42.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $428.86 and a fifty-two week high of $594.67. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $549.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $542.89.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.57 by $0.16. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. The firm had revenue of $7.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.31 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $580.00, for a total value of $87,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,255 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,887,900. The trade was a 4.41% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 14,051 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the insider now owns 58,451 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,196,757.55. The trade was a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 37,258 shares of company stock valued at $20,885,067. 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.