Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. Has $27.43 Million Stock Position in Mastercard Incorporated $MA

Key Points

• Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. increased its stake in Mastercard by 13.1%, bringing its total holdings to approximately $27.43 million as of the end of the most recent quarter.
• Mastercard's recent earnings report showed earnings per share of $4.15, exceeding estimates, along with a revenue of $8.13 billion, representing a 16.8% increase year-over-year.
• Analysts generally rate Mastercard as a "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $617.93, while recent moves included Macquarie lowering its price target and UBS increasing theirs.

Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. raised its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 13.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 50,042 shares of the credit services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 5,793 shares during the quarter. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P.'s holdings in Mastercard were worth $27,428,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 65,631.5% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 8,225,637 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $4,508,636,000 after buying an additional 8,213,123 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter worth about $4,238,764,000. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 15.2% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,149,181 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $4,817,684,000 after buying an additional 1,207,787 shares during the last quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth about $561,313,000. Finally, BlueSpruce Investments LP lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 55,091.0% in the 4th quarter. BlueSpruce Investments LP now owns 737,352 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $388,267,000 after buying an additional 736,016 shares during the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other news, 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 transaction of $8,220,537.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 58,451 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,196,757.55. This trade represents a 19.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $570.67, for a total transaction of $178,049.04. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,469 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,833,004.23. This trade represents a 3.55% 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 worth $20,178,667. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Mastercard Price Performance

Mastercard stock traded up $1.6290 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $585.7690. 2,334,029 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,548,391. The firm has a market cap of $529.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $563.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $555.02. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $461.90 and a 1-year high of $594.71.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $4.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.05 by $0.10. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.93% and a return on equity of 200.01%. The company had revenue of $8.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.50 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on MA shares. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Mastercard from $650.00 to $656.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $639.00 to $661.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday, July 17th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $650.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, June 6th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-four have assigned a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $617.93.

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.