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MA vs. TSM: Mastercard vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg Stock Comparison

How do Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) 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 Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) belongs to Information Technology (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Mastercard (MA) trades as ordinary local shares, while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
Profile ItemMATSM
NameMastercard Inc. Class A Common StockTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesTaiwan
GICS SectorFinancialsInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustryFinancial ServicesSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTransaction & Payment Processing ServicesSemiconductors
Market Capitalization568.62 billion USD1,947.21 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 25, 2006October 9, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MA
TSM
GSPC
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM), 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 Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
Total Return (1Y)20.00%37.26%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.98%64.12%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.49%28.19%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MA
TSM
GSPC
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM), 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 Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.57%41.69%
Beta (5Y)0.761.45
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.25%-56.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.98M11.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MA and TSM 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 Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.670.79
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.001.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 41.86% 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%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

41.86%

Max
52.82%
TSM
41.86%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Mastercard (MA) at 46.73% and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 51.12% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

51.12%

Max
63.80%
TSM
51.12%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Mastercard (MA) at 60.53% and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 58.66% 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%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

58.66%

TSM
58.66%
Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
ROE (TTM)231.37%41.86%
ROA (TTM)24.45%20.58%
Net Margin (TTM)46.73%51.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)60.53%58.66%
Gross Margin (TTM)--65.85%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 31.61% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Mastercard (MA) at 16.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for TSM.

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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 46.41% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Mastercard (MA) at 18.93% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for TSM.

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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.42%31.61%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)13.82%18.94%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.93%46.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)17.36%19.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) shows current ratio of 2.51; 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
--

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.51

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
TSM
2.51
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): MA’s current ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for TSM only.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12; 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
--

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.12

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
TSM
0.12
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): MA’s debt-to-equity ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for TSM only.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)--2.51
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.12
Net Debt / EBITDA---0.89

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% pays an industry-typical yield; Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 1.70% 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.

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%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.70%

TSM
1.70%
Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 24.46% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

24.46%

Max
49.64%
TSM
24.46%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.53%1.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)17.63%24.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 24.33 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

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

24.33

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
TSM
24.33
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 0.39 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Mastercard (MA) at 15.67 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

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

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.39

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
TSM
0.39
Min
0.00
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Mastercard (MA) at 84.30 and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 71.65 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

TSM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

71.65

TSM
71.65
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
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Mastercard (MA) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Financial Services and Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Mastercard (MA) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM)
MetricMATSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.1524.33
P/S Ratio (TTM)15.670.39
P/B Ratio (MRQ)84.3071.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--61.78%