Mastercard (NYSE:MA) Stock Price Down 1.1% on Insider Selling

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) shares were down 1.1% during mid-day trading on Friday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $463.62 and last traded at $463.72. Approximately 328,378 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 87% from the average daily volume of 2,459,234 shares. The stock had previously closed at $468.82.

Specifically, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 90,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $468.80, for a total transaction of $42,192,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 91,649,308 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,965,195,590.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 109,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $467.45, for a total transaction of $50,952,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 91,924,308 shares in the company, valued at $42,970,017,774.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 119,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $468.46, for a total transaction of $55,746,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 92,033,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $43,113,923,465.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on MA shares. Argus raised shares of Mastercard to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Bank of America downgraded Mastercard from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $505.00 to $480.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Mastercard from $500.00 to $570.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating and set a $520.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $500.00 to $526.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have assigned a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $512.09.

Mastercard Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.14. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $450.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $458.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $433.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.09.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 9th were paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 9th. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 20.99%.

Institutional Trading of Mastercard

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MA. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,885 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,937,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the period. Patrick M Sweeney & Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter worth approximately $451,000. Kovack Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 14.8% in the 4th quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 1,968 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $840,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares during the period. Raab & Moskowitz Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 11.6% in the 4th quarter. Raab & Moskowitz Asset Management LLC now owns 1,535 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $655,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 25.0% in the 4th quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 4,798 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $2,046,000 after purchasing an additional 961 shares in the last quarter. 97.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.