MasterCard published its earnings for first quarter 2012 on May 2nd. These results are very encouraging for fiscal 2012 with the highest quarterly growing rate since their initial public offering. Users of credit cards are more and more numerous and customers continue to adapt to electronical payments, increasing volume of transactions.

Net profit grew of 21% at $681 million against $562 million one year before. Turnover is $1.8 billion, up 17% due to the increase of transactions. With 7.7 billion payments for 1.8 billion cards outstanding, transaction volume taked 29% regards to quarter 1 2011. Earnings per share are expected at 22 dollars for full year 2012 and he is regularly revised upward. Consensus is confident with a target fixed at USD 471.

The strong upward trend followed since February, allows the security to gain 26%. A wide reversal phase was engaged after the contact with USD 458 resistance but the strongly bullish orientation will probably help the share to cross this level on the way to the USD 470. Weekly data show a perfect upward trend since January 2010 with 20-periods moving average in support.

Investors may be confident on the stock and take an objective in the USD 480 area. A stop loss will be positioned to USD 430 support.