AMI Asset Management Corp Lowers Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

AMI Asset Management Corp trimmed its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 81,804 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 2,032 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for 2.3% of AMI Asset Management Corp’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. AMI Asset Management Corp’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $43,076,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Transform Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 15,694 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $8,264,000 after acquiring an additional 611 shares during the period. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Mastercard by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC now owns 20,185 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $10,629,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Segment Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Mastercard by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Segment Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,821 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,065,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. TB Alternative Assets Ltd. bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at $1,997,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 7,981 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $4,203,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the period. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Up 0.6 %

MA stock opened at $527.84 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $484.47 billion, a PE ratio of 39.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.10. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $428.86 and a 52 week high of $537.70. 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 firm has a 50 day moving average of $524.19 and a 200 day moving average of $495.46.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.73 by $0.16. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. The business had revenue of $7.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.27 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.39 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the credit services provider to buy up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.58%. This is a boost from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MA has been the subject of several recent research reports. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $540.00 to $605.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $575.00 price target (up previously from $565.00) on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, November 15th. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of Mastercard from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $536.00 to $576.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their target price on Mastercard from $533.00 to $567.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.