Mastercard Incorporated $MA Shares Sold by Scholtz & Company LLC

Scholtz & Company LLC lowered its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) by 6.9% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 22,191 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after selling 1,636 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for approximately 5.7% of Scholtz & Company LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Scholtz & Company LLC’s holdings in Mastercard were worth $11,397,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 42.3% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,824 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $3,594,000 after acquiring an additional 2,028 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its stake in Mastercard by 8.5% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 2,548 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,432,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Betterment LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 947 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $532,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC grew its position in Mastercard by 35.8% during the 2nd quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 677,204 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $380,548,000 after purchasing an additional 178,387 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Mastercard during the 2nd quarter valued at $431,000. 97.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Mastercard Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:MA opened at $568.07 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $561.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $522.54. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.96. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $464.52 and a 12-month high of $601.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $497.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.74.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The credit services provider reported $5.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.77 by $0.27. Mastercard had a net margin of 46.34% and a return on equity of 239.99%. The business had revenue of $9.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $4.15 earnings per share. Mastercard’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 19.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 9th were paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 9th. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Mastercard’s payout ratio is 19.14%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group increased their target price on Mastercard from $640.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $632.00 price target on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Friday, July 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $701.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Barclays raised their price objective on Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on Mastercard from $664.00 to $667.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-five have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Mastercard currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $666.64.

Insider Transactions at Mastercard

In related news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 16,628 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $567.68, for a total value of $9,439,383.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 115,921 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $65,806,033.28. The trade was a 12.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Sachin Mehra sold 7,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $577.13, for a total value of $4,296,155.72. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 40,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $23,613,851.08. The trade was a 15.39% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders sold 74,623 shares of company stock valued at $42,544,606. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

More Mastercard News

Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard launched AI-commerce tools designed to help merchants and shopping agents discover products, personalize offers and complete transactions. The initiative positions Mastercard to participate in a potential shift toward agent-led online shopping and could support future payment volume and value-added-services growth. Mastercard Launches New AI Commerce Tools for Merchants and Shopping Agents
• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard executives highlighted AI, data and brand-building as key tools for improving marketing effectiveness and customer engagement. This supports the company’s strategy of expanding beyond payment processing into higher-margin data and technology services. The Innovation Playbook
• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard joined a World Bank initiative to expand digital payments in emerging markets. Greater acceptance and financial inclusion could create additional card issuance, transaction and cross-border payment opportunities over time. World Bank Pushes to Expand Emerging Market Digital Payments
• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard is expanding its ecosystem in the Middle East through Jaywan acceptance on Mastercard Gateway and a partnership with Banque du Liban to increase digital-payment acceptance among Lebanese small businesses and women entrepreneurs. These efforts support international volume growth and merchant penetration. noon payments enables Jaywan acceptance through Mastercard Gateway Mastercard and Banque du Liban collaboration
• Positive Sentiment: Mastercard introduced its World Select premium card program in India for affluent consumers. The program could raise spending per cardholder and deepen relationships with premium issuers in a rapidly expanding payments market. Mastercard launches World Select in India
• Neutral Sentiment: Mastercard forecasts that one in ten consumers could use AI agents for online shopping within four years. The opportunity is significant, but adoption, transaction economics and how AI agents monetize payments remain uncertain. Mastercard AI-agent shopping forecast
• Negative Sentiment: U.S. Bank’s stablecoin pilot and moves by Marqeta and BVNK to place digital dollars on payment cards highlight growing competition from blockchain-based payment systems. Wider stablecoin use could pressure traditional card rails, although Mastercard may also benefit if it provides infrastructure for the emerging market. Stablecoins Are Coming For Payments

Mastercard Profile

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) is a global technology company that operates a payments network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses. The company facilitates electronic payment transactions, including credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, by providing the infrastructure used to authorize, clear and settle transactions.

Mastercard’s products and services include its Mastercard-branded payment cards, digital payment tools, contactless payment technology and payment solutions for businesses and governments.