Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Holdings Boosted by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 17.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 732,476 shares of the credit services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 109,136 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned 0.08% of Mastercard worth $385,699,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MA. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,179,138 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $40,640,219,000 after purchasing an additional 377,302 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 22,267,937 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $11,725,627,000 after purchasing an additional 912,856 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 18,657,792 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $9,800,202,000 after acquiring an additional 282,739 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at $6,022,224,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 9,760,740 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $5,139,713,000 after buying an additional 817,836 shares during the period. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 15,775 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.16, for a total value of $8,678,774.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 84,871 shares of the company's stock, valued at $46,692,629.36. The trade was a 15.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the insider now owns 34,524 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,459,292.32. The trade was a 17.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Mastercard Stock Up 1.5 %

MA traded up $7.90 on Wednesday, hitting $547.58. 3,781,207 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,628,298. Mastercard Incorporated has a twelve month low of $428.86 and a twelve month high of $582.23. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $532.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $530.73. 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 $499.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.06.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. On average, equities analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be given a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is currently 21.89%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on MA. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $633.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Evercore ISI started coverage on Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued an "in-line" rating and a $550.00 price target for the company. Barclays boosted their target price on Mastercard from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Mastercard from $572.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $635.00 price objective (up previously from $591.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $607.96.

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.