Sather Financial Group Inc Lowers Stock Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Key Points

• Sather Financial Group Inc has trimmed its stake in Mastercard by 1.9%, now owning 96,030 shares worth approximately $52.6 million, making Mastercard its 12th largest holding.
• Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of Mastercard's stock, indicating strong institutional confidence in the company.
• Mastercard recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share, with a yield of 0.54%, reflecting a 21.32% dividend payout ratio.

Sather Financial Group Inc trimmed its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 1.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 96,030 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 1,872 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises approximately 3.4% of Sather Financial Group Inc's investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Sather Financial Group Inc's holdings in Mastercard were worth $52,636,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Navigoe LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 10Elms LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Down 0.2%

MA stock traded down $1.27 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $562.06. 1,197,842 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,806,154. The company has a market cap of $512.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.02. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $564.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $550.91. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $439.59 and a 52 week high of $594.71.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share (EPS) 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 firm had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.31 EPS. The business's revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on MA shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $650.00 price target for the company. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $630.00 to $635.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $633.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. 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. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Mastercard from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $612.90.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,469 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,833,004.23. This represents a 3.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 9,428 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.05, for a total transaction of $3,328,555.40. Following the transaction, the insider owned 58,451 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $20,636,125.55. The trade was a 13.89% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 38,753 shares of company stock worth $20,351,084. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.