Kimelman & Baird LLC Makes New $37.77 Million Investment in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Kimelman & Baird LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 85,618 shares of the credit services provider's stock, valued at approximately $37,771,000. Mastercard accounts for approximately 3.1% of Kimelman & Baird LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. VitalStone Financial LLC lifted its stake 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 during the last quarter. Westend Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the first quarter worth $27,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of Mastercard stock traded down $0.79 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $492.85. The company had a trading volume of 875,908 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,452,201. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $359.77 and a 1-year high of $501.80. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $470.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $461.76. The stock has a market cap of $458.16 billion, a PE ratio of 39.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.10. 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 - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 company 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 predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 9th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 9th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.99%.

Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In related news, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 4,685 shares of the company'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 completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 17,118 shares in the company, valued at $8,440,885.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CFO J. Mehra Sachin sold 13,439 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $455.00, for a total value of $6,114,745.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 27,304 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,423,320. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 4,685 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 owns 17,118 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,440,885.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 340,809 shares of company stock valued at $159,610,703. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on MA. William Blair upgraded shares of Mastercard to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $532.00 to $533.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $500.00 to $526.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Mastercard from $500.00 to $570.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. Finally, Compass Point initiated coverage on Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $525.00 price objective for the company. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $513.70.

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.