Principal Securities Inc. Purchases 2,851 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Principal Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 10.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 30,552 shares of the credit services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,851 shares during the quarter. Principal Securities Inc.'s holdings in Mastercard were worth $16,088,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. First Personal Financial Services bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the third quarter worth $39,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the third quarter worth $55,000. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 24.1% during the fourth quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 108 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth about $54,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on MA shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Mastercard from $584.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Mizuho lifted their target price on Mastercard from $496.00 to $532.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Seaport Res Ptn downgraded shares of Mastercard from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Mastercard from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $606.11.

Mastercard Stock Performance

MA traded down $0.14 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $568.47. The company had a trading volume of 844,732 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,554,926. The company has a market cap of $521.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a 50-day moving average of $537.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $511.77. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $576.94. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68.

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

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

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 given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is currently 21.89%.

Mastercard declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, December 17th that permits the company to buyback $12.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the credit services provider to repurchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard 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.