Suncoast Equity Management Trims Holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Suncoast Equity Management trimmed its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 64,221 shares of the credit services provider's stock after selling 951 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises about 3.8% of Suncoast Equity Management's investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Suncoast Equity Management's holdings in Mastercard were worth $33,817,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MA. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,135 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,651,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Capital Investment Services of America Inc. raised its holdings in Mastercard by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Services of America Inc. now owns 475 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Augustine Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Mastercard by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Augustine Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,797 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $946,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Mastercard by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLC now owns 1,516 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $749,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Bank N.A. raised its holdings in Mastercard by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 2,190 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,081,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Mastercard Stock Performance

NYSE:MA traded down $5.85 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $557.44. The stock had a trading volume of 2,256,092 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,585,452. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $538.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $512.53. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $428.86 and a 12-month high of $576.94. The stock has a market cap of $511.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.10.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share (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%. On average, research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be given a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard's dividend payout ratio is currently 21.89%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $533.00 to $567.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Mastercard from $510.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Mastercard from $572.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Tigress Financial boosted their price target on Mastercard from $550.00 to $685.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus 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.