LGL Partners LLC Decreases Stock Holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

LGL Partners LLC lessened its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 4.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,516 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 64 shares during the quarter. LGL Partners LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $798,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MA. FFT Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. FFT Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,733 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,439,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 78,514 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $41,343,000 after buying an additional 3,840 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 536,367 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $282,435,000 after buying an additional 108,242 shares during the last quarter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC now owns 11,155 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $5,874,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Mastercard by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Capital Management Inc. now owns 470 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $247,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Mastercard stock opened at $564.68 on Wednesday. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $428.86 and a fifty-two week high of $576.94. The company has a market capitalization of $514.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.65, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $540.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $515.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be given a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.89%.

Mastercard announced that its board has approved a stock buyback program on Tuesday, December 17th that permits the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the credit services provider to repurchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MA has been the topic of several research reports. Mizuho raised their price objective on Mastercard from $496.00 to $532.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. DZ Bank upgraded Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $620.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Mastercard from $654.00 to $644.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $606.11.

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.