Fortune Financial Advisors LLC Purchases 25 Shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Fortune Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,249 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 25 shares during the period. Mastercard makes up 3.0% of Fortune Financial Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Fortune Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $3,290,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Hixon Zuercher LLC lifted its position in Mastercard by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Hixon Zuercher LLC now owns 13,137 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $6,918,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 154,994 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $81,257,000 after buying an additional 16,527 shares in the last quarter. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $580,000. Sage Financial Management Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $212,000. Finally, Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Mastercard by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,135 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,651,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Mastercard Trading Up 2.9 %

NYSE MA opened at $564.81 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $518.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.10. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12 month low of $428.86 and a 12 month high of $576.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The company has a 50-day moving average of $526.58 and a 200-day moving average of $499.80.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last announced its quarterly 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 178.27% and a net margin of 45.26%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 14.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 9th will be issued a $0.76 dividend. This is an increase from Mastercard’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 10th. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is currently 23.00%.

Mastercard announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to buyback $12.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to reacquire up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MA shares. KeyCorp raised their target price on Mastercard from $515.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $533.00 to $567.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. William Blair restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Macquarie lifted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $505.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Mastercard from $536.00 to $576.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $567.29.

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.