ICE vs. MA: Intercontinental Exchange vs. Mastercard Stock Comparison
How do Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and Mastercard (MA) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but ICE is classified in Capital Markets while MA is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Financial Exchanges & Data | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 96.27 billion USD | 568.62 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 16, 2005 | May 25, 2006 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 18.71% | 20.00% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.62% | 19.98% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.59% | 14.49% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.87% | 23.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.97% | -28.25% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.09M | 2.98M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.56 | 0.67 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.80 | 1.00 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 14.40%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
14.40%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- ICE
- 14.40%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 38.14% and Mastercard (MA) at 46.73% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
38.14%
- Max
- 62.84%
- ICE
- 38.14%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Mastercard (MA) at 60.53% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 52.77%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
52.77%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- ICE
- 52.77%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 14.40% | 231.37% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.28% | 24.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 38.14% | 46.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 52.77% | 60.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 7.47% 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.
EPS Growth
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 20.71% and Mastercard (MA) at 18.93% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.47% | 16.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.47% | 13.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 20.71% | 18.93% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 30.77% | 17.36% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in Financial Services and Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in Financial Services and Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 1.17% and Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
1.17%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- ICE
- 1.17%
- Median
- 1.09%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 27.79% and Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
27.79%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- ICE
- 27.79%
- Median
- 25.77%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.17% | 0.53% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 27.79% | 17.63% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 23.47 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.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
23.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- ICE
- 23.47
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 8.82 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Mastercard (MA) at 15.67 prices even higher, above its industry range.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
8.82
- Max
- 9.23
- ICE
- 8.82
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 3.22 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 84.30 prices above its benchmark range — MA looks rich relative to book.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
3.22
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- ICE
- 3.22
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICE | MA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.47 | 34.15 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.82 | 15.67 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.22 | 84.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |