Abner Herrman & Brock LLC Trims Stock Position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Abner Herrman & Brock LLC reduced its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 41,710 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 384 shares during the quarter. Mastercard accounts for 2.7% of Abner Herrman & Brock LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Abner Herrman & Brock LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $21,963,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. First Personal Financial Services purchased a new position in Mastercard during the third quarter worth about $39,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard in the third quarter valued at about $54,000. Raelipskie Partnership increased its position in Mastercard by 120.0% during the 3rd quarter. Raelipskie Partnership now owns 110 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna upped their price objective on Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Friday. Monness Crespi & Hardt raised shares of Mastercard from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $640.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday. William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday. Mizuho boosted their target price on Mastercard from $496.00 to $532.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on Mastercard from $618.00 to $665.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $595.64.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $555.63 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.03. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year high of $576.94. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $528.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $501.43. The firm has a market cap of $509.97 billion, a PE ratio of 40.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.10.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.47% and a net margin of 45.71%. Equities analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 16.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be given a $0.76 dividend. This is an increase from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 10th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.89%.

Mastercard announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, December 17th that authorizes the company to buyback $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to purchase up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

About Mastercard

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.