Mastercard (MA) 2/4/10 PriceWatch Alert At $229.88 Break Even

Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010 8:39 AM EDT
By: Market Intelligence Center Staff

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) closed yesterday at $247.58. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $139.00 and 52-week high of $269.88. Mastercard stock has been showing support around 242.61 and resistance in the 256.49 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives MA a positive 4 STAR (out of 5) buy rating. MA appears on the Investors Observer Volume Leaders list. For a hedged play on this stock, look at an Apr '10 240 covered call for a net debit in the $229.88 area. That is also the break even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a 72 day duration, provides 7.15% downside protection and a 4.40% assigned return rate for a 22.32% annualized return rate (comparison purposes only). A lower cost hedged play for this stock would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the MA Jan '11 135 Call and selling the Apr '10 240 call for a $96.85 debit. The trade has a 72 day life and would provide 6.35% downside protection and an 8.42% assigned return rate for a 43.00% annualized return rate (for comparison purposes only). Mastercard has a current annual dividend yield of 0.24%. [THA-Seven Summits Research]