Insider Selling: Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Major Shareholder Sells 131,000 Shares of Stock

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 131,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $459.46, for a total value of $60,189,260.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 92,426,308 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,466,191,473.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own 10% or more of a company’s shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Foundation Mastercard also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Wednesday, June 26th, Foundation Mastercard sold 138,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $453.19, for a total value of $62,540,220.00.
• On Thursday, June 20th, Foundation Mastercard sold 111,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $451.07, for a total value of $50,068,770.00.
• On Monday, June 17th, Foundation Mastercard sold 107,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $445.98, for a total value of $47,719,860.00.
• On Friday, June 14th, Foundation Mastercard sold 116,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $443.63, for a total value of $51,461,080.00.
• On Wednesday, June 12th, Foundation Mastercard sold 108,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $445.09, for a total value of $48,069,720.00.
• On Monday, June 10th, Foundation Mastercard sold 113,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $447.85, for a total value of $50,607,050.00.
• On Friday, June 7th, Foundation Mastercard sold 115,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $450.63, for a total value of $51,822,450.00.
• On Wednesday, June 5th, Foundation Mastercard sold 115,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $445.11, for a total value of $51,187,650.00.
• On Monday, June 3rd, Foundation Mastercard sold 110,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $441.43, for a total value of $48,557,300.00.
• On Thursday, May 30th, Foundation Mastercard sold 104,000 shares of Mastercard stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $442.70, for a total value of $46,040,800.00.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $443.13 on Friday. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $359.77 and a fifty-two week high of $490.00. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $452.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $452.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market cap of $411.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.22, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.09.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.22 by $0.09. Mastercard had a net margin of 46.09% and a return on equity of 183.70%. The firm had revenue of $6.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.80 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 9th will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 9th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.60%. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is currently 20.99%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mastercard

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Altshuler Shaham Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. VitalStone Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 300.0% during the 4th quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 60 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Westend Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Palisade Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Mastercard in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on MA. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Mastercard from $525.00 to $545.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, April 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Mastercard from $520.00 to $510.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Susquehanna reiterated a “positive” rating and set a $535.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Mastercard from $540.00 to $525.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on Mastercard from $480.00 to $478.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has 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 $496.91.

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.