Mastercard (NYSE:MA) had its price target lifted by investment analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald to $198.00 in a report released on Friday. The firm presently has an “overweight” rating on the credit services provider’s stock. Cantor Fitzgerald’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 14.88% from the stock’s previous close.
MA has been the topic of several other reports. Citigroup upped their price target on Mastercard from $157.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Mastercard from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Piper Jaffray Companies reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $161.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Stephens initiated coverage on Mastercard in a research note on Friday, October 13th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $166.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Zacks Investment Research raised Mastercard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and twenty-nine have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $175.51.
Mastercard (NYSE MA) traded down $0.58 on Friday, hitting $172.35. The stock had a trading volume of 3,679,338 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,414,736. The company has a quick ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. Mastercard has a 52-week low of $105.60 and a 52-week high of $177.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $183,210.00, a PE ratio of 47.22, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.26.
Mastercard declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Monday, December 4th that permits the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the credit services provider to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.
In other Mastercard news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 17,167 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.81, for a total value of $2,606,122.27. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 47,901 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,271,850.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its position in Mastercard by 1.3% in the second quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 905 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $118,000 after buying an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. First Interstate Bank grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.4% during the second quarter. First Interstate Bank now owns 1,643 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $200,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Sullivan Bruyette Speros & Blaney LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.8% during the second quarter. Sullivan Bruyette Speros & Blaney LLC now owns 2,427 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $295,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. American Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 2.4% during the second quarter. American Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,100 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% during the second quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 5,067 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $615,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.66% of the company’s stock.
Mastercard Company Profile
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.
