Banco Santander S.A. Purchases 36,909 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Banco Santander S.A. increased its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 47.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 114,531 shares of the credit services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 36,909 shares during the quarter. Mastercard accounts for approximately 0.7% of Banco Santander S.A.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Banco Santander S.A.'s holdings in Mastercard were worth $60,309,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Addison Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 493 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,135 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,651,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Services of America Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Capital Investment Services of America Inc. now owns 475 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $250,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. Augustine Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Augustine Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,797 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $946,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC lifted its holdings in Mastercard by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC now owns 2,245 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,182,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company's stock.

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Mastercard Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of Mastercard stock traded down $2.84 on Friday, reaching $546.98. The company had a trading volume of 3,161,263 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,646,326. The firm has a market cap of $498.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $545.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $520.77. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $582.23.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. As a group, research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to buyback $12.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to repurchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be issued a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.89%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Monness Crespi & Hardt raised Mastercard from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $640.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup increased their target price on Mastercard from $584.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group increased their target price on Mastercard from $600.00 to $660.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Mastercard has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $606.11.

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.