First Affirmative Financial Network Buys 522 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

First Affirmative Financial Network grew its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 13.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,345 shares of the credit services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the period. Mastercard makes up approximately 1.3% of First Affirmative Financial Network's holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding. First Affirmative Financial Network's holdings in Mastercard were worth $2,288,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MA. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the third quarter worth $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in Mastercard in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. First Personal Financial Services acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 74.0% during the 3rd quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 87 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the third quarter valued at approximately $54,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

Mastercard Stock Up 2.9 %

Shares of Mastercard stock traded up $16.01 during trading on Thursday, reaching $564.81. The stock had a trading volume of 6,002,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,782,974. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. The company has a market capitalization of $518.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.10. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $428.86 and a 52 week high of $576.94. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $526.58 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $499.80.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. Sell-side analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, December 17th that authorizes the company to buyback $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to buy up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. This is a boost from Mastercard's previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. Mastercard's payout ratio is 23.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on MA shares. Oppenheimer cut their target price on Mastercard from $591.00 to $588.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $540.00 to $605.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $575.00 to $591.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on Mastercard from $533.00 to $567.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $567.29.

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.