MasterCard Incorporated (MA): Today's Featured Services Laggard

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

MasterCard Incorporated (MA) pushed the Services sector lower today making it today's featured Services laggard. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.7%. By the end of trading, MasterCard Incorporated fell $4.87 (-1.1%) to $420.95 on light volume. Throughout the day, 374,671 shares of MasterCard Incorporated exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 763,500 shares. The stock ranged in price between $420.27-$423.95 after having opened the day at $422.53 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $425.82. Other companies within the Services sector that declined today were: Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG), down 21.2%, Good Times Restaurants (GTIM), down 14.2%, China Auto Logistics (CALI), down 12.8%, and Armco Metals Holdings (CNAM), down 8.3%.

• ACTIVE STOCK TRADERS: Check out TheStreet's special offer for Real Money, headlined by Jim Cramer, now!

MasterCard Incorporated, a payments and technology company, together with its subsidiaries, provides transaction processing and other payment-related services in the United States and internationally. MasterCard Incorporated has a market cap of $50.82 billion and is part of the diversified services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 25.4, equal to the average diversified services industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 13.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 22 analysts that rate MasterCard Incorporated a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates MasterCard Incorporated as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full MasterCard Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Zale Corporation (ZLC), up 16.2%, Pandora Media (P), up 14.3%, SinoHub (SIHI), up 14%, and Del Frisco's Restaurant Group (DFRG), up 9.6%, were all gainers within the services sector with Family Dollar Stores (FDO) being today's featured services sector leader.

• Use our services section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the services sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Services (IYC) while those bearish on the services sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Consumer Sers (SCC).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

FREE from Real Money's Jim Cramer: Winners and Losers Election 2012 - Steps to take NOW so you can profit no matter who is in charge! Free download now.

For more information on MasterCard Incorporated click any of the following:

• MasterCard Incorporated Stock Price

• MasterCard Incorporated Analyst Ratings

• MasterCard Incorporated Key Stats & Profile

• MasterCard Incorporated Earnings

• MasterCard Incorporated Ratio Comparison

• MasterCard Incorporated Growth Rates

• MasterCard Incorporated Balance Sheet

• MasterCard Incorporated Cash Flow

• MasterCard Incorporated Income Statement