Kingsview Wealth Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 10.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 76,182 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,223 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises 0.8% of Kingsview Wealth Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $40,115,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Mastercard by 24.6% during the fourth quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 32,504 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $17,116,000 after buying an additional 6,422 shares during the last quarter. Apollon Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 41.4% during the 4th quarter. Apollon Financial LLC now owns 769 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $405,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the period. MWA Asset Management increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. MWA Asset Management now owns 2,003 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,055,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 13.2% in the 4th quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 66,712 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $35,129,000 after purchasing an additional 7,800 shares during the period. Finally, Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC grew its holdings in Mastercard by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC now owns 1,531 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $806,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on MA shares. Barclays lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $584.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Macquarie upped their price objective on Mastercard from $565.00 to $645.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $603.08.

Mastercard Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $562.55 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $516.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.50, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $531.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $504.29. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $576.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.29.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. Research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 9th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 10th. This is an increase from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.89%.

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

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.