Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC Purchases 2,298 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 12.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 20,765 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,298 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $10,934,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Prosperity Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 12.1% in the fourth quarter. Prosperity Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,483 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. Cascade Financial Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Cascade Financial Partners LLC now owns 2,376 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,251,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Natural Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter worth $5,742,000. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 11.9% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 1,642 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $865,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the period. Finally, GC Wealth Management RIA LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 11.9% in the fourth quarter. GC Wealth Management RIA LLC now owns 7,814 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $4,115,000 after purchasing an additional 829 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Mastercard Price Performance

Mastercard stock opened at $524.69 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $545.31 and its 200 day moving average is $522.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $478.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $428.86 and a one year high of $582.23.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 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%. As a group, research analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current year.

Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback 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 repurchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.89%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on MA. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Mastercard from $590.00 to $610.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. William Blair reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Mastercard from $572.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna lifted their target price on Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, DZ Bank upgraded Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $620.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Mastercard has a consensus 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.