Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Position Boosted by Alberta Investment Management Corp

Alberta Investment Management Corp lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 168.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 39,155 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 24,555 shares during the period. Alberta Investment Management Corp’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $20,618,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Mastercard in the third quarter worth about $25,000. First Personal Financial Services acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard during the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard during the third quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 24.1% during the fourth quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 108 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard in the third quarter worth approximately $54,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on MA shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased 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. William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Mastercard from $572.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Seaport Res Ptn lowered Mastercard from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Mastercard from $591.00 to $588.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-four have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $606.11.

Mastercard Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MA opened at $567.90 on Wednesday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $428.86 and a 1-year high of $576.94. The firm has a market cap of $521.24 billion, a PE ratio of 40.89, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $537.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $511.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The credit services provider reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.11. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.71% and a return on equity of 188.47%. Research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 (DPR) 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 buyback $12.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to reacquire up to 2.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

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.