Mastercard (NYSE:MA) had its target price boosted by research analysts at Oppenheimer from $160.00 to $182.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday. The firm presently has an “outperform” rating on the credit services provider’s stock. Oppenheimer’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 8.05% from the company’s current price.
Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $163.00 to $178.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $188.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $182.00 price target (up from $170.00) on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, January 19th. Vetr downgraded shares of Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $158.70 price target on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $171.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, January 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty-nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Mastercard presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $164.66.
Shares of Mastercard (MA) traded up $1.33 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $168.44. 608,123 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,970,000. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.66. The stock has a market cap of $178,320.00, a PE ratio of 39.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.21. Mastercard has a 52-week low of $104.01 and a 52-week high of $168.95.
Mastercard declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Monday, December 4th that allows the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the credit services provider to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.
In other news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 17,167 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.81, for a total transaction of $2,606,122.27. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 47,901 shares in the company, valued at $7,271,850.81. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 784.3% in the second quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 16,870,229 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $2,048,899,000 after purchasing an additional 14,962,583 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 289.7% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,570,551 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $433,643,000 after purchasing an additional 2,654,308 shares during the period. Harding Loevner LP grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 170.7% in the third quarter. Harding Loevner LP now owns 3,447,079 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $194,599,000 after purchasing an additional 2,173,507 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 15.8% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 12,685,589 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $1,540,665,000 after purchasing an additional 1,729,179 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 2.3% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 65,297,307 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $7,930,357,000 after purchasing an additional 1,490,267 shares during the period. 75.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
About Mastercard
MasterCard Incorporated is a technology company that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses across the world, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment. The Company operates through Payment Solutions segment. The Company allows user to make payments by creating a range of payment solutions and services using its brands, which include MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus.
