Focused Alpha LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA – Free Report) by 19.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,834 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,448 shares during the quarter. Mastercard makes up about 1.2% of Focused Alpha LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Focused Alpha LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $4,872,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MA. Robinswood Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. First Pacific Financial raised its stake in Mastercard by 113.8% in the first quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 62 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Premier Financial Group purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 102.6% during the 2nd quarter. Roxbury Financial LLC now owns 79 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 16,628 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $567.68, for a total transaction of $9,439,383.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 115,921 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $65,806,033.28. This represents a 12.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Linda Kirkpatrick sold 4,280 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $570.31, for a total transaction of $2,440,926.80. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 31,179 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $17,781,695.49. The trade was a 12.07% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 72,676 shares of company stock valued at $41,966,586 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
MA has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $664.00 to $667.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $700.00 to $735.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Evercore increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $550.00 to $620.00 in a research report on Friday, July 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $701.00 price target (up from $674.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on Mastercard from $554.00 to $633.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Mastercard currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $682.66.
Get Our Latest Research Report on Mastercard
Mastercard Stock Down 0.1%
Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $616.65 on Tuesday. Mastercard Incorporated has a twelve month low of $464.52 and a twelve month high of $622.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.96. The company’s 50 day moving average is $577.08 and its 200 day moving average is $536.11. The company has a market cap of $540.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 0.76.
Mastercard (NYSE:MA – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The credit services provider reported $5.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.77 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $9.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.08 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 46.34% and a return on equity of 239.99%. The firm’s revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.15 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 19.91 EPS for the current year.
Mastercard Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 9th. Investors of record on Friday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is 19.14%.
Mastercard News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Mastercard introduced a Stablecoin Security tool that combines payment and blockchain intelligence to detect fraud, scams and sanctions exposure before funds move on-chain. The product could support wider stablecoin adoption and create opportunities in fraud prevention and risk-management services. Mastercard introduces risk intelligence to stablecoin payments
- Positive Sentiment: The company is expanding its digital-asset capabilities, including stablecoin payment and card services across approximately 130 countries, as reported stablecoin payments rose 45% to $482 billion. This strengthens Mastercard’s role in connecting crypto-based payments with traditional commerce. Mastercard expands crypto team as stablecoins take center stage
- Positive Sentiment: Mastercard launched an AI-powered Agent Detection Score to estimate whether transactions were initiated by software rather than humans. The technology may help manage fraud and trust risks as autonomous shopping agents become more prevalent. Mastercard unveiled an AI Agent Detection Score
- Positive Sentiment: New partnerships with Extend, Moovn, BankIslami and Powertranz broaden Mastercard’s business-software, digital-payment and regional offerings, potentially supporting future transaction growth.
- Neutral Sentiment: U.S. officials are pressing China over independent market access for Mastercard’s payments network. Greater access could provide a significant growth opportunity, but the timing and outcome remain uncertain. U.S. officials press China on market access
- Negative Sentiment: CFO Ling Hai sold 4,317 shares for approximately $2.7 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, reducing direct ownership by 10.77%. The scheduled nature of the sale limits its significance, but it may create modest negative sentiment.
- Negative Sentiment: Mastercard’s shares are near their 52-week high and trade at roughly 34 times earnings, leaving the stock vulnerable to profit-taking if upcoming results or guidance do not sustain elevated growth expectations.
Mastercard Company Profile
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses. The company facilitates electronic payments and provides technology that supports transactions conducted through credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payment products.
In addition to operating its payments network, Mastercard offers services in areas such as payment security, fraud prevention, authentication, cybersecurity, data and analytics, loyalty programs, digital identity and open banking.
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