Mechanics Bank Trust Department Sells 454 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Mechanics Bank Trust Department lowered its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 8.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,824 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 454 shares during the quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department's holdings in Mastercard were worth $2,644,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new position in Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Navigoe LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $534.68, for a total value of $3,813,337.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 34,524 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,459,292.32. This represents a 17.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $580.00, for a total transaction of $87,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,255 shares in the company, valued at $1,887,900. The trade was a 4.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 23,207 shares of company stock worth $12,664,529 in the last three months. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $584.25. 653,119 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,598,111. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $428.86 and a 1-year high of $588.45. The company has a market cap of $532.67 billion, a PE ratio of 42.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $545.93 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $540.81.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.12 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. Mastercard's revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.31 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set an "in-line" rating and a $550.00 target price for the company. Monness Crespi & Hardt cut shares of Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Macquarie dropped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $645.00 to $610.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $630.00 to $655.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Tigress Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $610.00.

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.