Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Sold by Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Voor DE Media PNO

Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Voor DE Media PNO lessened its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 9.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 49,950 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 5,200 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises approximately 2.9% of Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Voor DE Media PNO's portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds Voor DE Media PNO's holdings in Mastercard were worth $22,273,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth $4,595,559,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 43,445.1% in the fourth quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 2,936,684 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $1,252,525,000 after acquiring an additional 2,929,940 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3,339.9% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 815,506 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $322,867,000 after acquiring an additional 791,799 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 1.0% in the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors grew its stake in shares of Mastercard by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 21,041,685 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $8,974,478,000 after acquiring an additional 676,452 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $433.00 to $482.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Oppenheimer restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $510.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $530.00 to $545.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $452.00 to $504.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, William Blair reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $490.23.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.25, for a total transaction of $97,450.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 97,543,308 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,527,976,823. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 200 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $47,527,976,823. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 16,037 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.94, for a total transaction of $7,632,649.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 12,255 shares in the company, valued at $5,832,644.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 366,630 shares of company stock worth $168,746,490 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Mastercard Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of MA traded up $0.31 on Friday, hitting $462.42. 1,963,273 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,212,406. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $431.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.08. The stock's 50 day moving average is $471.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $436.35. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $357.85 and a 1 year high of $490.00.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.18 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.10. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.60% and a return on equity of 191.22%. The company had revenue of $6.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.65 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 8th. Mastercard's payout ratio is 22.32%.

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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