Sowell Financial Services LLC Has $18.02 Million Stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Sowell Financial Services LLC decreased its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 4.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,870 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 1,486 shares during the quarter. Mastercard comprises approximately 0.8% of Sowell Financial Services LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Sowell Financial Services LLC's holdings in Mastercard were worth $18,016,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MA. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 42.3% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,824 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $3,594,000 after buying an additional 2,028 shares in the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter worth approximately $83,644,000. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG grew its position in Mastercard by 11.8% during the fourth quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 70,472 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $37,108,000 after buying an additional 7,452 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Private Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 15.6% during the fourth quarter. Quadrant Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 630 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $332,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter worth approximately $208,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, June 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $633.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. UBS Group increased their price target on Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Tigress Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $610.00.

Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 15,775 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.16, for a total transaction of $8,678,774.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 84,871 shares in the company, valued at $46,692,629.36. This represents a 15.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 sale, the insider now owns 34,524 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,459,292.32. This represents a 17.12% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 46,686 shares of company stock worth $26,430,428 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of MA opened at $561.50 on Monday. 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 stock has a 50 day moving average price of $555.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $544.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $511.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $428.86 and a 52 week high of $594.71.

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

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.

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