Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Boosts Stock Holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. lifted its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 361,462 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 27,230 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $159,463,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quest Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 72.4% in the second quarter. Quest Investment Management LLC now owns 35,896 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $15,836,000 after buying an additional 15,079 shares during the period. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Mastercard by 12,555.2% in the 2nd quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 11,010 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $4,857,000 after acquiring an additional 10,923 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 2.7% in the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 185,523 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $81,845,000 after acquiring an additional 4,814 shares during the period. Kowal Investment Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 4.4% during the second quarter. Kowal Investment Group LLC now owns 666 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Symmetry Investments LP boosted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 20.0% during the second quarter. Symmetry Investments LP now owns 9,600 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $4,235,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600 shares during the period. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mastercard Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $492.74 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $466.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $461.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $359.77 and a 52-week high of $501.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $458.06 billion, a PE ratio of 39.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.10.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.51 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.85 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 179.78% and a net margin of 46.45%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 9th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 9th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 20.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MA. BNP Paribas downgraded Mastercard from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $470.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Compass Point started coverage on Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $525.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Mastercard from $500.00 to $526.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $535.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Mastercard from $532.00 to $533.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Mastercard currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $512.08.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 138,000 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $453.19, for a total value of $62,540,220.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 92,152,308 shares in the company, valued at $41,762,504,462.52. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Mastercard news, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 4,685 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $493.10, for a total value of $2,310,173.50. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 17,118 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,440,885.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 138,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $453.19, for a total value of $62,540,220.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 92,152,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $41,762,504,462.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 605,124 shares of company stock valued at $280,045,189. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.