Virtu Financial LLC Invests $1.16 Million in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 2,620 shares of the credit services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,155,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sargent Investment Group LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 20.6% during the 2nd quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 8,751 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,861,000 after purchasing an additional 1,495 shares during the last quarter. GDS Wealth Management increased its position in Mastercard by 3.5% during the second quarter. GDS Wealth Management now owns 761 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 0.5% in the second quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 8,911 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,931,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Excalibur Management Corp lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 6.7% in the second quarter. Excalibur Management Corp now owns 3,056 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,348,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Luts & Greenleigh Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the second quarter valued at $268,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related 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 completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 17,118 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,440,885.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Mastercard news, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 4,685 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $493.10, for a total transaction of $2,310,173.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 17,118 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,440,885.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 131,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $459.46, for a total transaction of $60,189,260.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 92,426,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $42,466,191,473.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 605,124 shares of company stock worth $280,045,189. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Mastercard Price Performance

MA stock opened at $494.76 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $359.77 and a 1 year high of $501.80. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $464.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $460.76. The firm has a market cap of $459.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.10.

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

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 9th. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 20.99%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MA shares. KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $490.00 to $515.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Compass Point initiated coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $525.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Mastercard from $500.00 to $526.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. William Blair upgraded Mastercard to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $535.00 to $540.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Five equities 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. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $512.08.

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.