MA vs. PYPL: Mastercard vs. PayPal Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL) 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

Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL) are both classified in the Transaction & Payment Processing Services sub-industry within the broader Financial Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Profile Item	MA	PYPL
Name	Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock	PayPal Holdings, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Financials	Financials
GICS Industry Group	Financial Services	Financial Services
GICS Industry	Financial Services	Financial Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Transaction & Payment Processing Services	Transaction & Payment Processing Services
Market Capitalization	568.62 billion USD	49.21 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	May 25, 2006	July 6, 2015
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PYPL

GSPC

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
Total Return (1Y)	20.00%	-7.44%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.98%	4.14%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.49%	-21.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PYPL

GSPC

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL), 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

Loading price history…

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	23.57%	42.40%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	1.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-28.25%	-81.84%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.98M	11.78M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MA and PYPL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.67	-0.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.00	-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; PayPal (PYPL) at 23.83% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

23.83%

Max: 44.78%
PYPL: 23.83%
Q3: 21.85%
Median: 12.91%
Q1: 4.48%
Min: -18.71%

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 46.73% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of PayPal (PYPL) at 13.78%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

13.78%

Max: 62.84%
Q3: 28.05%
Median: 15.36%
PYPL: 13.78%
Q1: 4.82%
Min: -28.52%

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 60.53% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of PayPal (PYPL) at 18.41%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

18.41%

Max: 107.33%
Q3: 55.90%
Median: 30.09%
PYPL: 18.41%
Q1: 14.60%
Min: -44.34%

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
ROE (TTM)	231.37%	23.83%
ROA (TTM)	24.45%	4.70%
Net Margin (TTM)	46.73%	13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)	60.53%	18.41%
Gross Margin (TTM)	--	--

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Mastercard (MA) at 16.42% and PayPal (PYPL) at 4.32% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Mastercard (MA) at 18.93% and PayPal (PYPL) at 35.59% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	16.42%	4.32%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	13.82%	6.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.93%	35.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.36%	37.30%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services and PayPal (PYPL) 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: Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services and PayPal (PYPL) 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

Financial strength metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	--	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	--	--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% and PayPal (PYPL) at 0.95% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

0.95%

Max: 9.77%
Q3: 3.92%
Median: 1.09%
PYPL: 0.95%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% and PayPal (PYPL) at 10.69% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

10.69%

Max: 241.07%
Q3: 97.36%
Median: 25.77%
PYPL: 10.69%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.53%	0.95%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	10.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PayPal (PYPL) at 11.31 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.

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

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

11.31

Max: 45.85
Q3: 24.64
Median: 15.37
PYPL: 11.31
Q1: 9.68
Min: 0.16

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

PayPal (PYPL) at 1.43 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 15.67 clears its benchmark range — MA looks notably rich on sales.

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

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

1.43

Max: 9.23
Q3: 4.57
Median: 2.72
PYPL: 1.43
Q1: 1.28
Min: -0.55

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PayPal (PYPL) at 2.55 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.

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

PYPL

Financial Services industry group

2.55

Max: 7.79
Q3: 3.63
PYPL: 2.55
Median: 1.57
Q1: 0.81
Min: -0.39

Mastercard (MA) vs. PayPal (PYPL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL)
Metric	MA	PYPL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.15	11.31
P/S Ratio (TTM)	15.67	1.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	84.30	2.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	--