Wendell David Associates Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Wendell David Associates Inc. cut its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 2.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 117,737 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 3,157 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for approximately 6.4% of Wendell David Associates Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Wendell David Associates Inc.'s holdings in Mastercard were worth $64,534,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, 10Elms LLP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $534.68, for a total transaction of $3,813,337.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 34,524 shares in the company, valued at $18,459,292.32. This trade represents a 17.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 150 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $569.45, for a total value of $85,417.50. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,555 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,024,394.75. The trade was a 4.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 47,645 shares of company stock worth $26,979,801 over the last three months. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on MA shares. Monness Crespi & Hardt lowered Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. KeyCorp upped their target price on Mastercard from $630.00 to $635.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, June 6th. UBS Group upped their target price on Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Mastercard from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $610.00.

Mastercard Price Performance

MA opened at $568.52 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $556.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $544.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68. The company has a market cap of $518.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.05. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $428.86 and a 12-month high of $594.71.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 business had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.31 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.

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