Mastercard (NYSE:MA) Price Target Raised to $660.00

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) had its price target hoisted by equities research analysts at UBS Group from $600.00 to $660.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the credit services provider’s stock. UBS Group’s target price suggests a potential upside of 18.06% from the stock’s current price.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Macquarie increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $505.00 to $565.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $572.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of Mastercard from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $640.00 price target (up previously from $614.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $635.00 price target (up previously from $591.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research note 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $589.80.

Mastercard Stock Performance

NYSE:MA traded down $6.96 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $559.05. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,395,921 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,751,523. Mastercard has a 1 year low of $428.86 and a 1 year 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 stock has a market cap of $513.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.29, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.10. The business’s fifty day moving average is $527.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $500.25.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.26% and a return on equity of 178.27%. Analysts anticipate that Mastercard will post 14.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Tuesday, December 17th that allows the company to buyback $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to repurchase up to 2.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Mastercard during the third quarter worth about $25,000. First Personal Financial Services acquired a new position in Mastercard during the third quarter worth about $39,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the third quarter worth about $54,000. Raelipskie Partnership raised its position in Mastercard by 120.0% during the third quarter. Raelipskie Partnership now owns 110 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard during the third quarter worth about $55,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.