Sycomore Asset Management Sells 17,609 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Sycomore Asset Management reduced its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 70.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,489 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 17,609 shares during the quarter. Sycomore Asset Management’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $3,178,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Mastercard by 18.6% in the third quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,392 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,343,000 after purchasing an additional 531 shares in the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC raised its stake in Mastercard by 2.9% in the third quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 2,919 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,156,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Mastercard by 0.4% in the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 8,629 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $3,435,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. KFG Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the third quarter worth approximately $410,000. Finally, Nikulski Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 10.9% during the third quarter. Nikulski Financial Inc. now owns 3,871 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,533,000 after acquiring an additional 382 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MA traded down $0.32 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $462.50. 3,982,723 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,420,361. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $357.85 and a 1 year high of $490.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $431.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.17. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $471.65 and a 200 day moving average of $435.45.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.08 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $6.55 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.46 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.60% and a return on equity of 191.22%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.65 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on MA. William Blair reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Susquehanna restated a “positive” rating and set a $535.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $433.00 to $482.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $510.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Mizuho reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $480.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Two equities research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $490.23.

Insider Activity at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 7,851 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.92, for a total value of $3,736,447.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 47,640 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,672,828.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Mastercard news, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 16,037 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.94, for a total value of $7,632,649.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 12,255 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,832,644.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael Miebach sold 7,851 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.92, for a total value of $3,736,447.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 47,640 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $22,672,828.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 257,630 shares of company stock worth $118,303,470. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.