MA vs. VIRT: Mastercard vs. Virtu Financial Stock Comparison
How do Mastercard (MA) and Virtu Financial (VIRT) 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 Virtu Financial (VIRT) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but MA is classified in Financial Services while VIRT is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mastercard Inc. Class A Common Stock | Virtu Financial Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| 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 | 11.67 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 25, 2006 | April 16, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.00% | 57.98% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.98% | 51.24% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.49% | 19.25% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.57% | 37.43% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.76 | 0.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.25% | -54.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.98M | 1.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | 1.43 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.00 | 2.27 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 231.37% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 57.03% 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
231.37%
- MA
- 231.37%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
57.03%
- VIRT
- 57.03%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- 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 Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 17.96%, 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%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
17.96%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- VIRT
- 17.96%
- 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 Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 36.32%, 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%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
36.32%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- VIRT
- 36.32%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 231.37% | 57.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 24.45% | 5.01% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 46.73% | 17.96% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 60.53% | 36.32% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Mastercard (MA) at 16.42% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 26.25% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 72.73% 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 VIRT.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.42% | 26.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.82% | 15.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.93% | 72.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.36% | 28.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Mastercard (MA) in Financial Services and Virtu Financial (VIRT) 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 Virtu Financial (VIRT) 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 | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 0.53% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 1.78% 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%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
1.78%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- VIRT
- 1.78%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Mastercard (MA) at 17.63% and Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 15.95% 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%
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
15.95%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- VIRT
- 15.95%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.53% | 1.78% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 17.63% | 15.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 7.92 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Mastercard (MA) at 34.15 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
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
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
7.92
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- VIRT
- 7.92
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 3.35 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
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- VIRT
- 3.35
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Virtu Financial (VIRT) at 1.92 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
VIRT
Financial Services industry group
1.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- VIRT
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MA | VIRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 34.15 | 7.92 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 15.67 | 3.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 84.30 | 1.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |