Mastercard Incorporated $MA Stock Sold by James Hambro & Partners LLP

James Hambro & Partners LLP trimmed its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 16.8% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,739 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 1,362 shares during the quarter. Mastercard comprises approximately 0.1% of James Hambro & Partners LLP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. James Hambro & Partners LLP’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $3,717,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Robinswood Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. acquired a new position in Mastercard during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. First Pacific Financial raised its position in Mastercard by 113.8% in the first quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 62 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Premier Financial Group bought a new stake in Mastercard in the second quarter worth about $39,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Sachin Mehra sold 3,266 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $584.00, for a total value of $1,907,344.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 36,650 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $21,403,600. This trade represents a 8.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Linda Kirkpatrick sold 4,280 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $570.31, for a total transaction of $2,440,926.80. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 31,179 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,781,695.49. This trade represents a 12.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 68,359 shares of company stock worth $39,290,046 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MA shares. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating and set a $665.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Thursday. Clear Str upgraded shares of Mastercard to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Loop Capital increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $631.00 to $647.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of Mastercard from $597.00 to $710.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Evercore lifted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $550.00 to $620.00 in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty have given a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $682.66.

Mastercard Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:MA traded down $3.38 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $614.04. The company had a trading volume of 1,223,090 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,503,726. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $575.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $535.29. The firm has a market cap of $537.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 0.76. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1-year low of $464.52 and a 1-year high of $622.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.96, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The credit services provider reported $5.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.77 by $0.27. Mastercard had a return on equity of 239.99% and a net margin of 46.34%. The firm had revenue of $9.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.08 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $4.15 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 19.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 9th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Mastercard’s payout ratio is currently 19.14%.

Trending Headlines about Mastercard

Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard is partnering with Moovn to expand digital payments across East Africa. The agreement could increase Mastercard’s reach in a fast-growing, underpenetrated market and support longer-term transaction-volume growth. Mastercard and Moovn join forces to scale digital payments across East Africa
• Positive Sentiment: A partnership with Pakistan’s BankIslami is aimed at strengthening digital payments and card acceptance, adding another potential growth channel for Mastercard in an emerging market. Mastercard and BankIslami partnership
• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard is expanding stablecoin capabilities through its Global Money Platform, reportedly reaching 130 countries after the BVNK acquisition. The move positions MA to benefit if blockchain-based payments gain wider adoption. Mastercard stablecoin cards
• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard and Powertranz are simplifying restaurant payments, while the company’s Agent Pay Trust Framework adds tools to authenticate AI-driven transactions. These initiatives could reinforce Mastercard’s role as commerce becomes more digital and automated. Powertranz and Mastercard restaurant payments
• Neutral Sentiment: U.S. officials are pressing China on market-access issues involving Mastercard. Progress could open a significant opportunity, but the article provides no resolution, making the near-term earnings impact uncertain. Mastercard China market access
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and financial commentary continue to compare Mastercard favorably with American Express because MA operates a global network without taking direct consumer credit risk. However, these are investment opinions rather than new company-specific financial results. American Express versus Mastercard
• Negative Sentiment: Stablecoin payment volumes are rising rapidly, increasing the risk that blockchain networks could bypass traditional card rails. Mastercard’s stablecoin investments mitigate that threat, but also highlight intensifying competition. Stablecoin payments rise
• Negative Sentiment: MA is trading close to its 52-week high and at a high earnings multiple ahead of third-quarter results. The stock’s recent decrease may therefore reflect valuation concerns and profit-taking, with investors awaiting evidence that earnings growth can justify the premium.

About Mastercard

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses. The company facilitates electronic payments and provides technology that supports transactions conducted through credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payment products.

In addition to operating its payments network, Mastercard offers services in areas such as payment security, fraud prevention, authentication, cybersecurity, data and analytics, loyalty programs, digital identity and open banking.