Fact based stock research
MasterCard (NYSE:MA)
US57636Q1040
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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
MasterCard stock research in summary
investor.mastercard.cominvestor-relationsdefault.aspx
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 19 (worse than 81% compared with investment alternatives), MasterCard (Data Processing & Outsourcing, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of MasterCard are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 14 (worse than 86% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 33, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 59). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 19, is a sell recommendation based on MasterCard's financial characteristics. As the company MasterCard shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 14 (86% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 59% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 59). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 33 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for MasterCard, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Data Processing & Outsourcing |
| Index | Employee Focus US, Diversity USA, S&P 500 |
| Size class | Large |
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: MasterCard
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 13 |
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
14 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 73 |
|
75 |
|
55 |
|
59 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 26 |
|
29 |
|
29 |
|
33 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 75 |
|
78 |
|
30 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 23 |
|
27 |
|
7 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 19 (worse than 81% compared with investment alternatives), MasterCard (Data Processing & Outsourcing, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of MasterCard are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 14 (worse than 86% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 33, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 59). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 19, is a sell recommendation based on MasterCard's financial characteristics. As the company MasterCard shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 14 (86% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 59% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 59). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 33 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for MasterCard, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 13 |
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
14 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 73 |
|
75 |
|
55 |
|
59 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 26 |
|
29 |
|
29 |
|
33 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 4 |
|
12 |
|
1 |
|
19 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 14 (worse than 86% compared with alternatives), MasterCard shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for MasterCard. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 72% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 3 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 97% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning MasterCard's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 17 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 83% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 1 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 99% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 14, is a sell recommendation based on MasterCard's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick MasterCard? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose MasterCard only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 3 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 16 |
|
20 |
|
15 |
|
17 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 71 |
|
65 |
|
61 |
|
72 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 13 |
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
14 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 59 (better than 59% compared with alternatives), MasterCard shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for MasterCard. Sales Growth has a rank of 77 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 77% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 50, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 75, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 4, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 96% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 59, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 63 |
|
77 |
|
79 |
|
77 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 58 |
|
72 |
|
42 |
|
50 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 36 |
|
10 |
|
26 |
|
4 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 75 |
|
71 |
|
61 |
|
75 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 73 |
|
75 |
|
55 |
|
59 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 33 (better than 33% compared with alternatives), the company MasterCard has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of MasterCard is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for MasterCard. Liquidity is at 86, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 86% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 21, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 79% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 21, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 79% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 33 (worse than 67% compared with alternatives), MasterCard has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 20 |
|
18 |
|
9 |
|
21 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 26 |
|
21 |
|
25 |
|
21 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 88 |
|
88 |
|
91 |
|
86 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 26 |
|
29 |
|
29 |
|
33 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
74 |
|
69 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 52 |
|
50 |
|
7 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 79 |
|
70 |
|
58 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 28 |
|
48 |
|
46 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 75 |
|
78 |
|
30 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for MasterCard from July 31, 2025.
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