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CSCO vs. MA: Cisco Systems vs. Mastercard Stock Comparison

How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Cisco Systems (CSCO) is classified in the Information Technology sector (Technology Hardware & Equipment), whereas Mastercard (MA) belongs to Financials (Financial Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
Profile ItemCSCOMA
NameCisco Systems, Inc.Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyFinancials
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentFinancial Services
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentFinancial Services
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentTransaction & Payment Processing Services
Market Capitalization370.01 billion USD568.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990May 25, 2006
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
MA
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
Total Return (1Y)40.88%20.00%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%19.98%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%14.49%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO
MA
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%23.57%
Beta (5Y)1.020.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-28.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M2.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and MA are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.990.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.441.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% also sits in the top quartile.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.32%

Max
42.47%
CSCO
27.32%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%

MA

Financial Services industry group

231.37%

MA
231.37%
Max
44.78%
Q3
21.85%
Median
12.91%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-18.71%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% and Mastercard (MA) at 46.73% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.95%

Max
27.60%
CSCO
20.95%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%

MA

Financial Services industry group

46.73%

Max
62.84%
MA
46.73%
Q3
28.05%
Median
15.36%
Q1
4.82%
Min
-28.52%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% and Mastercard (MA) at 60.53% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.72%

Max
36.27%
CSCO
27.72%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%

MA

Financial Services industry group

60.53%

Max
107.33%
MA
60.53%
Q3
55.90%
Median
30.09%
Q1
14.60%
Min
-44.34%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
ROE (TTM)27.32%231.37%
ROA (TTM)7.98%24.45%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%46.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%60.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%--

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Mastercard (MA) at 16.42% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Mastercard (MA) reports EPS growth of 18.93%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%16.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%13.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)--18.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--17.36%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) shows current ratio of 0.93; Mastercard (MA) doesn’t get one — Financial Services balance sheets aren’t split into current and non-current buckets, so short-term liquidity there is judged through regulatory measures instead.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.93

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CSCO
0.93
Min
0.17

MA

Financial Services industry group

--

MA
--
Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): MA’s current ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for CSCO only.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62; for Mastercard (MA) the ratio is set aside — in Financial Services, balance-sheet leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital-adequacy measures do the job this ratio does elsewhere.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.62

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
CSCO
0.62
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01

MA

Financial Services industry group

--

MA
--
Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): MA’s debt-to-equity ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for CSCO only.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.93--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.62--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.82--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% pays an industry-typical yield; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.73%

CSCO
1.73%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MA

Financial Services industry group

0.53%

Max
9.77%
Q3
3.92%
Median
1.09%
MA
0.53%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

49.85%

CSCO
49.85%
Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MA

Financial Services industry group

17.63%

Max
241.07%
Q3
97.36%
Median
25.77%
MA
17.63%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%0.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%17.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 34.15 sits in the richer quartile — MA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

28.18

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
CSCO
28.18
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07

MA

Financial Services industry group

34.15

Max
45.85
MA
34.15
Q3
24.64
Median
15.37
Q1
9.68
Min
0.16
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Mastercard (MA) at 15.67 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.84

Max
11.30
CSCO
5.84
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00

MA

Financial Services industry group

15.67

MA
15.67
Max
9.23
Q3
4.57
Median
2.72
Q1
1.28
Min
-0.55
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Mastercard (MA) at 84.30 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.36

Max
10.75
CSCO
7.36
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33

MA

Financial Services industry group

84.30

MA
84.30
Max
7.79
Q3
3.63
Median
1.57
Q1
0.81
Min
-0.39
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Mastercard (MA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Mastercard (MA)
MetricCSCOMA
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.1834.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.8415.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.3684.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%--