Aua Capital Management LLC Sells 728 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Aua Capital Management LLC decreased its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 18.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,301 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 728 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises 1.1% of Aua Capital Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest position. Aua Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $1,738,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. First Personal Financial Services bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $54,000. Raelipskie Partnership raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 120.0% during the 3rd quarter. Raelipskie Partnership now owns 110 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $55,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Mastercard Stock Performance

MA opened at $559.21 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.03. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $428.86 and a 52-week high of $576.94. The firm has a market cap of $513.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.10. The business’s fifty day moving average is $529.03 and its 200-day moving average is $502.60.

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%. Sell-side analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 16.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. 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%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.89%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Barclays boosted their target price on Mastercard from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. DZ Bank raised Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $620.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Monness Crespi & Hardt raised Mastercard from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $640.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Mastercard from $545.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $603.08.

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.