NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. · Financial Services

Mastercard Inc

Q: What does Mastercard Inc do?

Mastercard operates a global payment processing network connecting banks, merchants, and consumers for electronic transactions. Like Visa, Mastercard does not issue cards or lend money—it earns revenue from transaction fees paid by financial institutions and merchants for each purchase processed. The company benefits from network effects and the ongoing shift from cash to digital payments. Additional revenue streams include data analytics services, fraud prevention tools, and consulting for financial institutions.

Q: Is MA stock a good investment?

Mastercard benefits from secular growth in digital payments and operating leverage, as incremental transactions require minimal additional infrastructure. The stock trades at a premium valuation reflecting high margins and consistent revenue growth. Risks include regulatory caps on interchange fees, competition from digital wallets and peer-to-peer platforms, and antitrust scrutiny. Economic downturns reduce consumer spending and cross-border transactions, which represent a significant portion of Mastercard's higher-margin revenue.

Q: Who are Mastercard Inc's main competitors?

Mastercard competes directly with Visa in global card network payments, American Express in premium segments and co-branded cards, PayPal and Stripe in online payment processing, and UnionPay in Asian markets. Emerging threats include central bank digital currencies, real-time payment rails, and fintech platforms that bypass traditional card networks.

Q: Does Mastercard Inc pay dividends?

Mastercard has raised its dividend every year since initiating payouts in 2006, reflecting strong cash flow growth. The company maintains a conservative payout ratio, allowing room for continued increases while funding substantial share buybacks. Mastercard's capital allocation strategy emphasizes returning cash through both dividends and repurchases, as its asset-light model generates more cash than needed for business reinvestment.

Q: How much does MA stock cost right now?

MA last closed at $498.93, down 0.29% in the most recent trading session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $465.59 and a high of $601.77. The current price represents 24% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.

Q: What is the analyst consensus for MA?

Among 50 analysts covering MA, the consensus rating is Strong Buy — 43 rate it a buy, 7 hold, and 0 sell. The average price target sits at $603.01, implying 21% upside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.

Q: Does Mastercard Inc make money?

Mastercard Inc generated $32.09B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $14.65B reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 45.7% is strong by most industry standards.

Q: Is MA stock expensive based on earnings?

MA trades at a P/E ratio of 30.82 on trailing earnings of $16.52 per share. That's above the S&P 500 historical average, suggesting the market expects above-average earnings growth ahead. Comparing this multiple against Financial Services sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.

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$498.93

-1.45 (-0.29%)

As of Mar 24, 9:30 PM ET ·

Day Range $493.24 — $502.73

52W Range $465.59 — $601.77

Performance

1D —

1W —

1M —

3M -13.90%

6M -12.05%

1Y -8.23%

YTD -11.40%

Open$495.64

Previous Close$500.38

Day High$502.73

Day Low$493.24

52W High$601.77

52W Low$465.59

Volume—

Avg Volume3.57M

Market Cap461.31B

P/E Ratio30.82

EPS$16.52

SectorFinancial Services

Technical Indicators

Full analysis →

SMA 50 $551.49 Below

SMA 200 $563.67 Below

RSI (14) 37.2 Neutral

Trend Death Cross Bearish

Analyst Ratings

Strong Buy

50 analysts

43 Buy 7 Hold 0 Sell

Price Target +20.9% upside

Current
$498.93

Target
$603.01

$509.09 $603.01 avg $937.76

Key Financials

	FY 2026	FY 2025	FY 2024
Revenue	32.09B	28.20B	83.23B
Net Income	14.65B	11.58B	28.15B
Profit Margin	45.7%	43.4%	33.8%
EBITDA	19.78B	16.51B	56.25B
Free Cash Flow	—	—	20.91B
Rev Growth	+13.8%	+13.8%	-5.1%
Debt/Equity	2.46	2.46	0.55

Dividend

Dividend Yield0.49%

Annual Dividend$3.05

Payout Ratio18.4%

Frequencyquarterly

Ex-Dividend—

Pay Date—

Recent Insider Activity

All Insiders →

Date	Insider	Type	Shares	Price	Value
Feb 25	Ling Hai	Exercise	30,154	$90.10	$2.72M
Feb 25	Ling Hai	Sale	29,913	$490.90	$14.68M
Feb 25	Ling Hai	Sale	29,553	$492.17	$14.55M
Feb 25	Ling Hai	Sale	28,943	$493.24	$14.28M
Feb 25	Ling Hai	Sale	28,823	$494.09	$14.24M

About Mastercard Inc

Mastercard Inc., based in Purchase, New York, is a global financial technology and payments company operating the Mastercard network for electronic payments. The company facilitates transactions between consumers, merchants, and financial institutions in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard is one of the two largest payment networks globally competing with Visa. The company provides payment processing infrastructure and develops digital payment solutions for merchants and issuers.

Financial Services Peers

Symbol	Name	Price	Change	P/E	Mkt Cap
BRK.B	Berkshire Hathaway Inc	$479.33	-0.14%	15.9	1.07T
V	Visa Inc	$303.76	-0.22%	29.0	603.38B
MS	Morgan Stanley	$165.87	+0.94%	16.4	275.98B
GS	Goldman Sachs Group	$835.72	+0.54%	16.0	274.87B
AXP	American Express Co	$302.00	+0.03%	21.6	233.63B
SCHW	Schwab (Charles) Corp	$95.68	+0.40%	18.7	165.30B

MA Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mastercard Inc do?

Mastercard operates a global payment processing network connecting banks, merchants, and consumers for electronic transactions. Like Visa, Mastercard does not issue cards or lend money—it earns revenue from transaction fees paid by financial institutions and merchants for each purchase processed. The company benefits from network effects and the ongoing shift from cash to digital payments. Additional revenue streams include data analytics services, fraud prevention tools, and consulting for financial institutions.

Is MA stock a good investment?

Mastercard benefits from secular growth in digital payments and operating leverage, as incremental transactions require minimal additional infrastructure. The stock trades at a premium valuation reflecting high margins and consistent revenue growth. Risks include regulatory caps on interchange fees, competition from digital wallets and peer-to-peer platforms, and antitrust scrutiny. Economic downturns reduce consumer spending and cross-border transactions, which represent a significant portion of Mastercard's higher-margin revenue.

Who are Mastercard Inc's main competitors?

Mastercard competes directly with Visa in global card network payments, American Express in premium segments and co-branded cards, PayPal and Stripe in online payment processing, and UnionPay in Asian markets. Emerging threats include central bank digital currencies, real-time payment rails, and fintech platforms that bypass traditional card networks.

Does Mastercard Inc pay dividends?

Mastercard has raised its dividend every year since initiating payouts in 2006, reflecting strong cash flow growth. The company maintains a conservative payout ratio, allowing room for continued increases while funding substantial share buybacks. Mastercard's capital allocation strategy emphasizes returning cash through both dividends and repurchases, as its asset-light model generates more cash than needed for business reinvestment.

How much does MA stock cost right now?

MA last closed at $498.93, down 0.29% in the most recent trading session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $465.59 and a high of $601.77. The current price represents 24% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.

What is the analyst consensus for MA?

Among 50 analysts covering MA, the consensus rating is Strong Buy — 43 rate it a buy, 7 hold, and 0 sell. The average price target sits at $603.01, implying 21% upside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.

Does Mastercard Inc make money?

Mastercard Inc generated $32.09B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $14.65B reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 45.7% is strong by most industry standards.

Is MA stock expensive based on earnings?

MA trades at a P/E ratio of 30.82 on trailing earnings of $16.52 per share. That's above the S&P 500 historical average, suggesting the market expects above-average earnings growth ahead. Comparing this multiple against Financial Services sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.

Is MA stock going up or down?

Performance varies across timeframes, reflecting shifting market conditions. Returns by timeframe: -13.90% (3M), -12.05% (6M), -8.23% (1Y), -11.40% (YTD). Comparing these figures against the S&P 500 and sector benchmarks helps determine whether MA is outperforming or lagging the broader market.