MA vs. V: Mastercard vs. Visa Stock Comparison
How do Mastercard (MA) and Visa (V) 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 Visa (V) 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.
| Profile Item | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mastercard Incorporated | Visa Inc. Class A |
| 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 | 471.04 billion USD | 679.40 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 25, 2006 | March 19, 2008 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -5.80% | 0.34% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.28% | 15.23% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.85% | 9.13% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.59% | 21.70% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.73 | 0.75 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.25% | -28.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.81M | 8.07M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.45 | -0.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.63 | -0.25 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 232.08% and Visa (V) at 60.35% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.
MA
Financial Services industry group
232.08%
- MA
- 232.08%
- Max
- 42.17%
- Q3
- 21.43%
- Median
- 12.16%
- Q1
- 4.99%
- Min
- -17.69%
V
Financial Services industry group
60.35%
- V
- 60.35%
- Max
- 42.17%
- Q3
- 21.43%
- Median
- 12.16%
- Q1
- 4.99%
- Min
- -17.69%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Mastercard (MA) at 45.88% and Visa (V) at 51.68% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
MA
Financial Services industry group
45.88%
- Max
- 66.55%
- MA
- 45.88%
- Q3
- 30.40%
- Median
- 16.66%
- Q1
- 4.52%
- Min
- -26.88%
V
Financial Services industry group
51.68%
- Max
- 66.55%
- V
- 51.68%
- Q3
- 30.40%
- Median
- 16.66%
- Q1
- 4.52%
- Min
- -26.88%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 60.84% and Visa (V) at 67.35% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
MA
Financial Services industry group
60.84%
- Max
- 95.95%
- MA
- 60.84%
- Q3
- 50.68%
- Median
- 27.45%
- Q1
- 12.07%
- Min
- -36.26%
V
Financial Services industry group
67.35%
- Max
- 95.95%
- V
- 67.35%
- Q3
- 50.68%
- Median
- 27.45%
- Q1
- 12.07%
- Min
- -36.26%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 232.08% | 60.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | 25.03% | 19.19% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 45.88% | 51.68% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 60.84% | 67.35% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.42% | 11.34% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.82% | 10.92% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.93% | 4.83% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.36% | 13.37% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services and Visa (V) 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 Visa (V) 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 | V |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 0.60% and Visa (V) at 0.72% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
MA
Financial Services industry group
0.60%
- Max
- 21.60%
- Q3
- 8.90%
- Median
- 1.55%
- MA
- 0.60%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
V
Financial Services industry group
0.72%
- Max
- 21.60%
- Q3
- 8.90%
- Median
- 1.55%
- V
- 0.72%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 18.23% and Visa (V) at 21.97% 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
18.23%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 95.56%
- Median
- 25.56%
- MA
- 18.23%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
V
Financial Services industry group
21.97%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 95.56%
- Median
- 25.56%
- V
- 21.97%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.60% | 0.72% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 18.23% | 21.97% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 30.89 and Visa (V) at 31.12 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
MA
Financial Services industry group
30.89
- Max
- 50.48
- MA
- 30.89
- Q3
- 26.76
- Median
- 15.04
- Q1
- 9.30
- Min
- 0.52
V
Financial Services industry group
31.12
- Max
- 50.48
- V
- 31.12
- Q3
- 26.76
- Median
- 15.04
- Q1
- 9.30
- Min
- 0.52
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Mastercard (MA) at 13.88 and Visa (V) at 15.79 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MA
Financial Services industry group
13.88
- MA
- 13.88
- Max
- 10.05
- Q3
- 4.96
- Median
- 2.93
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- -1.00
V
Financial Services industry group
15.79
- V
- 15.79
- Max
- 10.05
- Q3
- 4.96
- Median
- 2.93
- Q1
- 1.49
- Min
- -1.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Mastercard (MA) at 70.37 and Visa (V) at 19.16 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
MA
Financial Services industry group
70.37
- MA
- 70.37
- Max
- 7.36
- Q3
- 3.56
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.00
V
Financial Services industry group
19.16
- V
- 19.16
- Max
- 7.36
- Q3
- 3.56
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MA | V |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.89 | 31.12 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 13.88 | 15.79 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 70.37 | 19.16 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |