Scissortail Wealth Management LLC Boosts Stock Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Scissortail Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 23.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,604 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Scissortail Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $1,147,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tyche Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the fourth quarter worth $3,049,000. Allen Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the fourth quarter worth $217,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in Mastercard by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 368,253 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $157,064,000 after purchasing an additional 5,714 shares in the last quarter. West Paces Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Mastercard by 10.7% during the fourth quarter. West Paces Advisors Inc. now owns 425 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $181,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Mastercard by 35.3% during the fourth quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 20,187 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $8,610,000 after purchasing an additional 5,265 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of MA traded down $0.29 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $459.50. 1,787,160 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,421,027. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $357.85 and a fifty-two week high of $490.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $428.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.08. The business’s 50 day moving average is $471.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $432.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $6.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.46 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.60% and a return on equity of 191.22%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.65 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 8th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.57%. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 22.32%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 16,037 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.94, for a total transaction of $7,632,649.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 12,255 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,832,644.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 7,851 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.92, for a total transaction of $3,736,447.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 47,640 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $22,672,828.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 16,037 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.94, for a total transaction of $7,632,649.78. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 12,255 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,832,644.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 41,728 shares of company stock worth $19,479,753. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Mastercard from $432.00 to $499.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Mizuho reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $480.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Mastercard from $530.00 to $545.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 26th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Mastercard from $480.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, KeyCorp upped their price objective on Mastercard from $475.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $485.91.

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.