Mastercard (NYSE:MA) Sets New 52-Week High – What’s Next?

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $582.23 and last traded at $578.50, with a volume of 278128 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $576.31.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MA shares. Raymond James reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $640.00 price target (up previously from $614.00) on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Macquarie upped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $565.00 to $645.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Mastercard from $550.00 to $565.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Susquehanna raised their price objective on Mastercard from $605.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Four research 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.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $606.11.

Mastercard Stock Up 0.7 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $544.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $519.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $509.47 billion, a PE ratio of 40.23, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last released 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 45.71% and a return on equity of 188.47%. Analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. Mastercard’s dividend payout ratio is presently 21.89%.

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

Institutional Trading of Mastercard

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Swedbank AB lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 14.8% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 1,874,568 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $925,662,000 after buying an additional 241,297 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Mastercard by 39.6% during the third quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,474 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $728,000 after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the last quarter. Alterna Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in Mastercard by 2.3% in the third quarter. Alterna Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,385 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $684,000 after acquiring an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Mastercard by 13.0% in the third quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,299 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $641,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Martin Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.1% during the third quarter. Martin Investment Management LLC now owns 39,191 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $19,353,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

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.