As Mastercard (MA) Market Valuation Rose, Shareholder Meritage Portfolio Management Has Lowered Position; Oakbrook Investments Holding in Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) Cut by $746,880

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Meritage Portfolio Management decreased its stake in Mastercard Inc (MA) by 1.66% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Meritage Portfolio Management sold 2,690 shares as the company’s stock rose 14.37% while stock markets declined. The institutional investor held 159,285 shares of the business services company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $24.11M, down from 161,975 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management who had been investing in Mastercard Inc for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $184.16 billion market cap company. The stock increased 2.82% or $4.81 during the last trading session, reaching $175.16. About 3.72M shares traded. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) has risen 54.12% since March 31, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 42.57% the S&P500.

Oakbrook Investments Llc decreased its stake in Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) by 48.18% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Oakbrook Investments Llc sold 5,835 shares as the company’s stock declined 7.65% with the market. The institutional investor held 6,275 shares of the mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals (no fuels) company at the end of 2017Q4, valued at $806,000, down from 12,110 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Oakbrook Investments Llc who had been investing in Vulcan Materials Company for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $15.13B market cap company. The stock increased 2.58% or $2.87 during the last trading session, reaching $114.17. About 1.60 million shares traded or 7.60% up from the average. Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) has risen 1.98% since March 31, 2017 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 9.57% the S&P500.

Analysts await Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to report earnings on May, 1. They expect $1.25 EPS, up 23.76% or $0.24 from last year’s $1.01 per share. MA’s profit will be $1.31B for 35.03 P/E if the $1.25 EPS becomes a reality. After $1.14 actual EPS reported by Mastercard Incorporated for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts 9.65% EPS growth.

Meritage Portfolio Management, which manages about $1.31 billion and $1.04B US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Ishares Nasdaq Biotech Etf (IBB) by 65,788 shares to 99,544 shares, valued at $10.63 million in 2017Q4, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in S & P 500 Depositary Receipt (SPY) by 11,311 shares in the quarter, for a total of 29,040 shares, and has risen its stake in Norbord Inc (NBRXF).

Since October 2, 2017, it had 0 insider buys, and 4 selling transactions for $10.08 million activity. McLaughlin Edward Grunde had sold 17,167 shares worth $2.61M. CARLUCCI DAVID R had sold 5,950 shares worth $1.09 million. 5,000 shares were sold by Haythornthwaite Richard, worth $712,540. $856,027 worth of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) was sold by Fraccaro Michael on Thursday, October 12.

Investors sentiment increased to 0.91 in 2017 Q4. Its up 0.02, from 0.89 in 2017Q3. It increased, as 46 investors sold MA shares while 492 reduced holdings. 131 funds opened positions while 356 raised stakes. 764.78 million shares or 1.94% less from 779.91 million shares in 2017Q3 were reported. Chilton Inv Communication Ltd Liability Corporation holds 2.53% or 432,745 shares in its portfolio. Missouri-based Parkside Bancshares And Tru has invested 0.02% in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Pnc Svcs Gp accumulated 0.11% or 773,654 shares. Moreover, Private Wealth Advsrs Inc has 0.66% invested in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Blair William & Il reported 1.3% of its portfolio in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Sterling Capital Mngmt Limited Company accumulated 0% or 1,413 shares. Bahl Gaynor has invested 0.01% in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Gamble Jones Inv Counsel has 1.07% invested in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) for 74,455 shares. Tiaa Cref Mngmt Ltd Co accumulated 6.52M shares. Umb Bank N A Mo invested in 0.97% or 197,600 shares. Virtus Inv Advisers holds 441,266 shares. City, a West Virginia-based fund reported 9,101 shares. Td Asset has 926,865 shares. First Long Island Invsts Lc holds 1.22% of its portfolio in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) for 59,222 shares. Sadoff Inv Management Ltd Liability Co invested in 0.04% or 3,189 shares.

Among 40 analysts covering Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), 36 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 4 Hold. Therefore 90% are positive. Mastercard Incorporated had 123 analyst reports since July 21, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. On Friday, January 20 the stock rating was upgraded by Wedbush to “Outperform”. Cowen & Co maintained the stock with “Buy” rating in Thursday, February 1 report. JP Morgan maintained Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) rating on Friday, August 14. JP Morgan has “Overweight” rating and $111 target. Bernstein maintained Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) rating on Monday, December 11. Bernstein has “Buy” rating and $180.0 target. The rating was maintained by Jefferies on Tuesday, August 25 with “Buy”. The firm earned “Hold” rating on Friday, October 30 by S&P Research. The stock has “Overweight” rating by Barclays Capital on Wednesday, October 18. On Tuesday, January 30 the stock rating was maintained by Barclays Capital with “Overweight”. The stock has “Buy” rating by Wells Fargo on Tuesday, January 9. The stock has “Buy” rating by Stifel Nicolaus on Monday, October 31.

Investors sentiment increased to 1.25 in 2017 Q4. Its up 0.19, from 1.06 in 2017Q3. It is positive, as 35 investors sold VMC shares while 152 reduced holdings. 65 funds opened positions while 168 raised stakes. 118.61 million shares or 2.84% more from 115.33 million shares in 2017Q3 were reported. Optimum Advisors holds 0.07% of its portfolio in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) for 1,793 shares. Northeast Fincl Consultants Inc invested 0.57% of its portfolio in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC). Bessemer reported 4,098 shares. Nomura Asset Mgmt Communication Ltd reported 0.03% in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC). First Personal Service invested 0.01% of its portfolio in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC). Tru Company Of Vermont holds 975 shares. L S Advisors holds 3,605 shares. Raymond James & Assoc holds 0% in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) or 12,513 shares. Gardner Lewis Asset Ltd Partnership invested 0.42% of its portfolio in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC). Atlantic Group Incorporated Limited Liability Corp invested in 0% or 355 shares. 24,600 are owned by Proshare Advsr Lc. State Board Of Administration Of Florida Retirement Systems accumulated 207,950 shares. Price T Rowe Associate Inc Md has 9.03M shares. Moreover, Fiduciary Services Of The Southwest Incorporated Tx has 0.07% invested in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) for 1,779 shares. Principal Financial Group Inc Inc invested in 0.18% or 1.49M shares.

Analysts await Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) to report earnings on May, 9. They expect $0.31 EPS, down 8.82% or $0.03 from last year’s $0.34 per share. VMC’s profit will be $41.07M for 92.07 P/E if the $0.31 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.74 actual EPS reported by Vulcan Materials Company for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts -58.11% negative EPS growth.

Oakbrook Investments Llc, which manages about $3.64 billion and $1.58B US Long portfolio, upped its stake in Pepsico Inc. (NYSE:PEP) by 26,345 shares to 359,386 shares, valued at $43.10 million in 2017Q4, according to the filing. It also increased its holding in Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE:MRO) by 23,060 shares in the quarter, for a total of 60,050 shares, and has risen its stake in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).

Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) Institutional Positions Chart