Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Shares Bought by Consolidated Capital Management LLC

Consolidated Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 939 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 48 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up about 0.2% of Consolidated Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 29th largest position. Consolidated Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $494,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the third quarter worth $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. First Personal Financial Services acquired a new position in Mastercard in the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 74.0% during the 3rd quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 87 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the third quarter worth about $54,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $525.22 on Monday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $427.45 and a 12-month high of $537.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $482.06 billion, a PE ratio of 39.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $524.28 and its 200-day moving average is $494.59.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.73 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $7.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.27 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 178.27% and a net margin of 45.26%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.39 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 10th. This is an increase from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.58%. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is 19.97%.

Mastercard announced that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the credit services provider to purchase up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on MA. William Blair restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Monday, November 25th. Seaport Res Ptn lowered shares of Mastercard from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $536.00 to $576.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Mastercard from $593.00 to $580.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 1st. Four 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Mastercard has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $566.63.

Mastercard 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.