Arkadios Wealth Advisors Sells 604 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Arkadios Wealth Advisors reduced its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 5.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 11,011 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 604 shares during the quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors' holdings in Mastercard were worth $5,798,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. First Personal Financial Services purchased a new stake in Mastercard in the third quarter worth $39,000. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 74.0% in the third quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 87 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter valued at $54,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MA traded up $2.08 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $525.22. 2,373,992 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,205,146. The stock has a market cap of $482.06 billion, a PE ratio of 39.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.10. The business's fifty day moving average is $524.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $493.64. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $427.45 and a one year high of $537.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.73 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $7.37 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.27 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. The business's revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.39 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows 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 leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.58%. This is a boost from Mastercard's previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 10th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is 19.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MA. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $515.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Mastercard from $550.00 to $565.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Susquehanna increased their price target on shares of Mastercard from $540.00 to $605.00 and gave the company a "positive" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Mastercard from $593.00 to $580.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Mastercard from $545.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $566.63.

Mastercard Company 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.