Zacks Research Equities Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research reduced their Q2 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Mastercard in a research note issued on Wednesday, May 15th. Zacks Research analyst D. Chatterjee now expects that the credit services provider will earn $3.51 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $3.58. The consensus estimate for Mastercard's current full-year earnings is $14.24 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Mastercard's Q3 2024 earnings at $3.71 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $3.63 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $14.16 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $3.74 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $4.04 EPS and Q4 2025 earnings at $4.44 EPS.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on MA. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Mastercard from $525.00 to $545.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Mastercard in a report on Thursday, April 11th. They set a "buy" rating and a $545.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $536.00 to $524.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Oppenheimer reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $510.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Mastercard from $432.00 to $499.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $497.78.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of MA stock traded up $1.40 on Friday, hitting $460.27. 1,982,909 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,452,344. The company has a 50 day moving average of $466.46 and a 200 day moving average of $442.23. The stock has a market cap of $427.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.09. Mastercard has a 12 month low of $357.85 and a 12 month high of $490.00.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.22 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $6.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.34 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 183.70% and a net margin of 46.09%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.80 EPS. Mastercard's quarterly revenue was up 10.4% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of MA. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at about $4,595,559,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 43,445.1% during the fourth quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,936,684 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,252,525,000 after buying an additional 2,929,940 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 3,339.9% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 815,506 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $322,867,000 after acquiring an additional 791,799 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Mastercard by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 75,253,734 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $32,096,470,000 after acquiring an additional 742,076 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors lifted its position in Mastercard by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 21,041,685 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $8,974,478,000 after acquiring an additional 676,452 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.25, for a total value of $97,450.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 97,543,308 shares in the company, valued at $47,527,976,823. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 200 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $487.25, for a total transaction of $97,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 97,543,308 shares of the company's stock, valued at $47,527,976,823. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Sandra A. Arkell sold 300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $447.23, for a total value of $134,169.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,063 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,817,095.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,448,688 shares of company stock worth $658,248,007 over the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.