Level Wealth Management LLC Invests in Mastercard Incorporated

Level Wealth Management LLC has taken a new position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) during the fourth quarter, as indicated by its latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 900 shares of the globally recognized credit services provider, totaling an estimated value of $474,000. This investment represents approximately 0.3% of Level Wealth Management LLC's overall portfolio, ranking Mastercard as the 29th largest holding within the fund's asset allocation.

Several other institutional investors have also made moves regarding their stakes in Mastercard. For instance, Highline Wealth Partners LLC established a new position in Mastercard in the third quarter, worth about $25,000. Similarly, First Personal Financial Services and FSA Wealth Management LLC bought new positions valued at $39,000 and $54,000, respectively. Raelipskie Partnership significantly raised its investment, increasing its holdings in Mastercard by 120% and now owning 110 shares worth approximately $54,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC also entered a new position in Mastercard during the third quarter, valued at about $55,000. Currently, institutional investors own 97.28% of Mastercard's stock.

Market Performance of Mastercard

The shares of Mastercard were trading down by 1.8% recently, with the stock opening at $555.63. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $528.28, while the 200-day simple moving average stands at $501.43. With a market capitalization of $509.97 billion, Mastercard has a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 42.03 and a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 2.17. The firm’s debt-to-equity ratio is 2.36, paired with a current ratio of 1.29. Over the past year, Mastercard's stock has varied significantly, having a low of $428.86 and a high of $576.94.

Recent Earnings and Share Repurchase Plan

Mastercard released its quarterly earnings report on January 30th, indicating earnings per share (EPS) of $3.82, which exceeded the expected consensus of $3.71 by $0.11. The company reported a remarkable return on equity of 178.27% and a net margin of 45.26%. Analysts predict that Mastercard will achieve an EPS of 14.47 for the current financial year.

Additionally, Mastercard's board recently approved a share repurchase program on December 17th, allowing the company to buy back up to $12 billion in shares. This initiative will enable Mastercard to repurchase up to 2.5% of its outstanding shares via open market transactions, a strategy often interpreted as a signal that the company's leadership views its stock as undervalued.

Dividend Increase Announcement

The company announced a quarterly dividend that will be distributed on February 7th. Shareholders recorded on January 9th will receive a dividend payment of $0.76 per share, an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This results in an annualized dividend of $3.04, yielding 0.55%. The ex-dividend date for this payment is January 10th, with Mastercard maintaining a dividend payout ratio of 23.00%.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

Recent commentary from various research analysts on Mastercard stock has been optimistic. Barclays raised their price target from $536.00 to $576.00, rating it as "overweight." Jefferies Financial Group also increased their target from $590.00 to $610.00 and affirmed a "buy" rating. In a similar vein, Robert W. Baird upgraded their objective price from $545.00 to $575.00, giving an "outperform" rating. Furthermore, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mizuho issued higher price targets of $610.00 and $532.00, respectively, both recommending an "outperform" rating. Presently, the company holds an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from analysts, with an average target price of $595.64.

About Mastercard Incorporated

Mastercard Incorporated is a technology-driven company that offers transaction processing and a variety of payment-related products and services, both domestically and globally. It caters to diverse clients, including account holders, merchants, financial organizations, digital partners, businesses, and governments. Their offerings include solutions that allow financial institutions to provide payment credits, access to funds through various account types, prepaid program services, and products in commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment categories.

Investment, Stocks, Mastercard