Choate Investment Advisors Increases Stake in Mastercard Incorporated

Choate Investment Advisors has increased its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA - Free Report) by 15.8% during the fourth quarter, as indicated in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of this increase, the firm now holds 47,040 shares of the credit services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 6,412 shares during the quarter. Mastercard currently represents 0.6% of Choate Investment Advisors' total investment portfolio, ranking it as the firm’s 26th largest holding. The total value of Choate Investment Advisors' holdings in Mastercard is approximately $24.77 million, according to recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Institutional Investors and Hedge Fund Activity

Several other institutional players have also been active in trading shares of Mastercard. For instance, Addison Advisors LLC increased its holdings in the company by 3.8% during the fourth quarter and now owns 493 shares valued at roughly $260,000 after acquiring 18 additional shares. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its position by 0.6%, resulting in ownership of 3,135 shares worth about $1.65 million after purchasing 19 additional shares. Similarly, Capital Investment Services of America Inc. raised its stake by 4.2%, now holding 475 shares valued at $250,000 after adding 19 more shares. Augustine Asset Management Inc. and Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC also made slight increases to their stakes during this period. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds own approximately 97.28% of Mastercard's total shares.

Recent Price Target Adjustments by Analysts

Numerous equity research analysts have recently reviewed Mastercard's stock. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded their target price on Mastercard from $585.00 to $625.00 while maintaining an "overweight" rating in research published on February 4. Meanwhile, Barclays raised their price objective from $595.00 to $650.00, also assigning an "overweight" rating in their February 3 report. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating along with a revised price target of $635.00, which was an increase from the previous $591.00. DZ Bank upgraded Mastercard from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating with a price target of $620.00. In total, four analysts have given the stock a hold rating, twenty-four have suggested buying, and two have recommended a strong buy. MarketBeat indicates that the consensus rating for Mastercard is currently a "Moderate Buy," with an average target price set at $606.11.

Stock Performance Overview

On the trading front, Mastercard's stock opened at $527.87. The stock's 50-day and 200-day moving averages stand at $545.38 and $522.44, respectively. With a market capitalization of approximately $481.27 billion, Mastercard boasts a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.00 and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.37. The company has a relatively high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68 but maintains a current and quick ratio of 1.03. Historically, Mastercard's stock has ranged between a low of $428.86 and a high of $582.23 over the past year.

Mastercard's Recent Earnings and Dividends

Mastercard recently reported its quarterly earnings on January 30, announcing an EPS of $3.82, which surpassed analysts' predictions of $3.71. The company has demonstrated an impressive return on equity of 188.47% alongside a net margin of 45.71%. Analysts are projecting that Mastercard will achieve earnings of 15.91 per share this year. Additionally, the company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.76, expected to be paid on May 9, with a record date of April 9. The annualized dividend stands at $3.04, translating to a yield of 0.58%. The dividend payout ratio is currently at 21.89%. Furthermore, Mastercard's Board has authorized a $12 billion share repurchase plan designed to buy back up to 2.5% of its shares, a move that suggests the board believes the stock is undervalued.

About Mastercard

Mastercard Incorporated is a global technology company that offers transaction processing and various payment-related products and services both in the United States and internationally. It provides integrated products tailored to account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, and governments. This includes programs that allow issuers to offer consumers payment deferral options, as well as payment products and solutions that facilitate access to funds in different accounts.

investment, portfolio, dividend