Mastercard (MA) to Release Earnings on Thursday

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) will likely be issuing its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, January 30th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $3.71 per share and revenue of $7.38 billion for the quarter. Parties that wish to listen to the company's conference call can do so using this link.

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, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.73 by $0.16. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. The firm had revenue of $7.37 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.39 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Mastercard to post $14 EPS for the current fiscal year and $16 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of MA stock traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $547.61. 2,727,544 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,607,825. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $525.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $498.70. The firm has a market cap of $502.61 billion, a PE ratio of 41.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.29. Mastercard has a 1-year low of $428.86 and a 1-year high of $551.55.

Mastercard announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to repurchase $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the credit services provider to buy up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. This is an increase from Mastercard's previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. Mastercard's payout ratio is presently 23.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MA shares. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Mastercard from $545.00 to $575.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $536.00 to $576.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. TD Cowen boosted 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. UBS Group raised their price objective on Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, William Blair restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, November 25th. 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 company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $567.29.

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.