Powers Advisory Group LLC Acquires 67 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Powers Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 14.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 529 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Powers Advisory Group LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $279,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth about $268,000. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in Mastercard by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC now owns 5,503 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,897,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Oak Harvest Investment Services lifted its stake in Mastercard by 7.4% in the fourth quarter. Oak Harvest Investment Services now owns 5,830 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $3,070,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the period. Fortune Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Fortune Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,249 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,290,000 after buying an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hixon Zuercher LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Hixon Zuercher LLC now owns 13,137 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $6,918,000 after acquiring an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $564.81 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $526.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $499.80. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $428.86 and a 1-year high of $576.94. The firm has a market cap of $518.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.10.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 178.27% and a net margin of 45.26%. Analysts anticipate 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 plan on Tuesday, December 17th that authorizes the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the credit services provider to repurchase up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be given a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. This is a positive change from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 23.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $591.00 to $588.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Macquarie raised their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $505.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Mizuho upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $496.00 to $532.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $567.29.

Mastercard Company 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.