MA vs. SPCX: Mastercard vs. Space Exploration Stock Comparison
How do Mastercard (MA) and Space Exploration (SPCX) 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) is classified in the Financials sector (Financial Services), whereas Space Exploration (SPCX) belongs to Communication Services (Telecommunication Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.
Mastercard (MA) has been public since May 25, 2006, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Space Exploration (SPCX) listed only on June 12, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
| Profile Item | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Diversified Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Transaction & Payment Processing Services | Alternative Carriers |
| Market Capitalization | 568.62 billion USD | 1,823.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 25, 2006 | June 12, 2026 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.00% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.98% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.49% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Space Exploration (SPCX) carries a highly aggressive beta of 5.69, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Mastercard (MA) is closer to market-like at 0.76 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.57% | 82.86% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.76 | 5.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.25% | -48.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.98M | 97.49M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both MA and SPCX need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.00 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Mastercard (MA) earns 231.37% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Space Exploration (SPCX) has no ROE this period.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
--
- Max
- 31.74%
- Q3
- 17.02%
- Median
- 7.32%
- Q1
- -5.16%
- Min
- -20.26%
- SPCX
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Space Exploration (SPCX) reports a negative net margin of -8.61%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Mastercard (MA) reports 46.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
-8.61%
- Max
- 30.45%
- Q3
- 11.78%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -3.86%
- SPCX
- -8.61%
- Min
- -18.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 60.53% and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 27.58% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
27.58%
- Max
- 35.53%
- SPCX
- 27.58%
- Q3
- 22.79%
- Median
- 12.87%
- Q1
- 0.82%
- Min
- -29.20%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 231.37% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 24.45% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 46.73% | -8.61% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 60.53% | 27.58% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | 56.76% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Space Exploration (SPCX) at 33.24% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Mastercard (MA) at 16.42%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Mastercard (MA) at 18.93% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Space Exploration (SPCX) at -25,600.00% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.42% | 33.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.82% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.93% | -25,600.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.36% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Space Exploration (SPCX) shows current ratio of 3.08; 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.
MA
Financial Services industry group
--
- MA
- --
- Max
- --
- Q3
- --
- Median
- --
- Q1
- --
- Min
- --
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
3.08
- SPCX
- 3.08
- Max
- 2.85
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Space Exploration (SPCX) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22; 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.
MA
Financial Services industry group
--
- MA
- --
- Max
- --
- Q3
- --
- Median
- --
- Q1
- --
- Min
- --
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.22
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.65
- SPCX
- 0.22
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | 3.08 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.22 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -4.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Space Exploration (SPCX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Mastercard (MA) reports a yield of 0.53%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.10%
- Q3
- 2.63%
- SPCX
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Space Exploration (SPCX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Mastercard (MA) reports a payout of 17.63%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 121.72%
- Q3
- 68.18%
- Median
- 4.06%
- SPCX
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.53% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 17.63% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Mastercard (MA) at 34.15 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 583.78 is richer still, above its industry range.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
583.78
- SPCX
- 583.78
- Max
- 30.40
- Q3
- 23.75
- Median
- 13.30
- Q1
- 8.65
- Min
- 2.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Mastercard (MA) at 15.67 and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 56.91 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
56.91
- SPCX
- 56.91
- Max
- 3.01
- Q3
- 1.73
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Mastercard (MA) at 84.30 and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 10.31 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
10.31
- SPCX
- 10.31
- Max
- 8.10
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- -2.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MA | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 34.15 | 583.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 15.67 | 56.91 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 84.30 | 10.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |