Deltec Asset Management LLC Has $6.54 Million Stock Holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Deltec Asset Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 5.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 12,426 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 700 shares during the quarter. Mastercard accounts for about 1.3% of Deltec Asset Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Deltec Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $6,543,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Money Concepts Capital Corp increased its stake in Mastercard by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 1,874 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $987,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. now owns 4,567 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,439,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 12.8% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 110,009 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $55,725,000 after purchasing an additional 12,502 shares in the last quarter. Jericho Financial LLP bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $1,176,000. Finally, Y.D. More Investments Ltd boosted its position in Mastercard by 3.0% during the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 12,617 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $6,642,000 after purchasing an additional 369 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MA opened at $559.21 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $529.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $503.41. 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 Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $576.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $513.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.10.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. As a group, research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 16.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, December 17th that permits the company to buyback $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the credit services provider to reacquire up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

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 issued a dividend of $0.76 per share. 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is 21.89%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Mastercard from $550.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Macquarie boosted their target price on Mastercard from $565.00 to $645.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Seaport Res Ptn downgraded Mastercard from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Mastercard presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $603.08.

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.