MA vs. SF: Mastercard vs. Stifel Financial Stock Comparison
How do Mastercard (MA) and Stifel Financial (SF) 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 Stifel Financial (SF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but MA is classified in Financial Services while SF is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock | Stifel Financial Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Transaction & Payment Processing Services | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 568.62 billion USD | 10.65 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 25, 2006 | July 19, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.00% | -8.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.98% | 24.91% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.49% | 9.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.57% | 27.41% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.76 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.25% | -36.25% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.98M | 1.29M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | -0.45 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.00 | -0.62 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Stifel Financial (SF) at 16.55%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
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%
SF
Financial Services industry group
16.55%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SF
- 16.55%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Mastercard (MA) at 46.73% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Stifel Financial (SF) at 16.73%, 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%
SF
Financial Services industry group
16.73%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- SF
- 16.73%
- 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 Stifel Financial (SF) at 22.49%, 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%
SF
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- SF
- 22.49%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 231.37% | 16.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 24.45% | 2.25% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 46.73% | 16.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 60.53% | 22.49% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Mastercard (MA) at 16.42% and Stifel Financial (SF) at 11.33% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Mastercard (MA) at 18.93% and Stifel Financial (SF) at -6.08% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.42% | 11.33% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.82% | 8.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.93% | -6.08% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.36% | 3.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services and Stifel Financial (SF) 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 Stifel Financial (SF) 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 | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% and Stifel Financial (SF) at 1.83% 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%
SF
Financial Services industry group
1.83%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SF
- 1.83%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% and Stifel Financial (SF) at 22.98% 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%
SF
Financial Services industry group
22.98%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SF
- 22.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.53% | 1.83% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 17.63% | 22.98% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Stifel Financial (SF) at 12.37 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
SF
Financial Services industry group
12.37
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- SF
- 12.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Stifel Financial (SF) at 1.82 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
SF
Financial Services industry group
1.82
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- SF
- 1.82
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Stifel Financial (SF) at 2.00 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
SF
Financial Services industry group
2.00
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- SF
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MA | SF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 34.15 | 12.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 15.67 | 1.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 84.30 | 2.00 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |