Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Trims Stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lessened its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 11.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,663,660 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 206,232 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for approximately 1.3% of Ensign Peak Advisors Inc’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc owned approximately 0.18% of Mastercard worth $733,940,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. VitalStone Financial LLC raised its position in Mastercard by 300.0% during the fourth quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 60 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Westend Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Mastercard news, 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 value of $60,189,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 92,426,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $42,466,191,473.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 4,685 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 directly owns 17,118 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,440,885.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 131,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $459.46, for a total value of $60,189,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 92,426,308 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,466,191,473.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 605,124 shares of company stock valued at $280,045,189 over the last ninety days. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MA opened at $492.63 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $457.96 billion, a PE ratio of 39.16, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $466.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $461.15. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $359.77 and a 1-year high of $501.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.51 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $6.96 billion for 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%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on MA shares. Argus upgraded Mastercard to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $530.00 to $536.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 5th. William Blair raised shares of Mastercard to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $480.00 to $509.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Mastercard from $500.00 to $570.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $512.08.

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.