MA Stock Analysis & Forecast (2026)

Mastercard Incorporated Financial Services Credit Services
$591.96
Current Price
80%
Strong Buy
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Data refreshed: August 31, 2026

Key Financial Metrics

Market Cap
$518.56B
P/E Ratio (TTM)
32.6x
P/E Forward
25.7x
Revenue Growth
14.1%
Gross Margin
100.0%
Net Margin
46.3%
Return on Equity
241.2%
Debt/Equity
4.40

AI Analysis Summary

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is a Financial Services company in the Credit Services industry with a 80% Strong Buy Score. Key strengths include Revenue Growth (14.1%), Gross Margin (100.0%), Net Margin (46.3%). Areas to watch: Debt/Equity (4.40). The score on this page is a five-factor screen — revenue growth, gross margin, net margin, return on equity and debt-to-equity — each scored against fixed thresholds from a neutral starting point of 50%. The eight-section analysis, including moat, free cash flow, dilution and valuation, runs in the full report.

Revenue Growth: Good Gross Margin: Excellent Net Margin: Excellent Return on Equity: Excellent Debt/Equity: High Risk

This analysis is generated by StrongBuyAnalytics AI using publicly available financial data from SEC filings, earnings reports, and market feeds. It is not personalized investment advice. See our methodology and disclaimer.

Why MA Has a 80% Score

5 of the inputs in our model moved MA's score away from the neutral baseline of 50%, landing it at 80% (Strong Buy). Each one below is a specific figure from Mastercard Incorporated's reported financials, not a judgement call:

Recent Catalysts for MA

4 data points sit outside the score itself but bear on Mastercard Incorporated's next few quarters. They are reported here as observations, not predictions:

Earnings grew 22.1% — accelerating profitability could drive re-rating.
Wall Street consensus target is $669.46 (+13.1% from current price), based on 37 analyst estimates.
Analyst consensus recommendation: Strong Buy.
Institutional ownership at 91.3% — strong smart-money backing.

MA vs. V, AXP, COF, PYPL

Compared against other Credit Services companies we cover, picked for having a similar market capitalisation to MA.

Ticker Price Market Cap P/E Rev Growth Net Margin ROE
MA $591.96 $518.56B 32.6x 14.1% 46.3% 241.2%
V $380.45 $710.32B 32.4x 14.4% 50.8% 61.2%
AXP $331.04 $223.55B 20.1x 12.8% 16.1% 34.4%
COF $213.68 $131.09B 11.8x 1111.0% 21.9% 9.0%
PYPL $53.53 $45.80B 10.1x 4.8% 14.4% 24.5%

Main Risks for MA Investors

2 measurable risks showed up in Mastercard Incorporated's numbers. This is not a complete list of what could go wrong — only what is visible in the data we score:

Debt/Equity (4.40)
High leverage amplifies downside risk if revenue softens or interest rates rise.

MA Balance Sheet & Cash Flow

Mastercard Incorporated's liquidity and cash generation as of the most recent filing — note the cash position of $11.61B against $24.64B of debt:

Total Cash
$11.61B
Total Debt
$24.64B
Current Ratio
1.06
FCF Yield
3.3%
EBITDA
$22.20B
Operating Margin
61.1%

Figures are drawn from Mastercard Incorporated's most recent balance sheet and cash flow statement as filed with the SEC. See the filings themselves.

MA Valuation Snapshot

Trailing P/E
32.6x
Growth premium
Forward P/E
25.7x
Earnings growth expected
Price / Book
92.6x
High intangible value
PEG Ratio
1.81
Fairly valued
Analyst Target (Mean)
$669.46
Range: $550 – $740
Dividend Yield
0.58%
5Y avg: 0.54%
52-Week Price Range — MA is trading at 93% of its range
$464.52 (52W Low) $601.62 (52W High)

Who Holds MA? — Institutional 13F Filings

Institutional investment managers with >$100 M in qualifying assets must disclose their equity positions quarterly on SEC Form 13F — typically within 45 days of quarter-end. Search those filings below to see which hedge funds, mutual funds, and asset managers reported MA as a holding, how many shares they held, and how positions changed quarter over quarter.

Search 13F Filings for MA Free · no sign-in required · live SEC EDGAR data
What you see free
Which institutions reported MA, share counts, reported values, and direct links to the SEC filing.
Research Pro adds
Full manager portfolios — every position a fund holds, quarter-over-quarter changes, and concentration weights.
Data limitation
13F shows long equity positions as of the filing date. Short positions, full derivatives, and current intent are not disclosed.

Is MA a Buy Right Now?

We do not answer that question for you, and we do not publish buy or sell calls. What we publish is a score: MA rates 80% on our five-factor fundamentals screen, which puts it in the "Strong Buy" band. Everything below explains how it got there so you can disagree with it.

80% · Strong Buy band

Mastercard Incorporated clears our thresholds on most of what we measure. The strongest readings are revenue growth (14.1%) and gross margin (100.0%). It is not unqualified: debt/equity (4.40) works against it.

MA Earnings & Revenue Outlook

Mastercard Incorporated reported revenue growth of 14.1% year over year, against a Credit Services peer set where scale and pricing power vary widely. That is solid but not exceptional, so it lifts the score without dominating it.

Earnings grew 22.1% over the same period, outpacing revenue — a sign of operating leverage.

Track upcoming report dates on our earnings calendar.

MA Stock Forecast (Next 3–12 Months)

This is a fundamentals outlook, not a price target — we do not publish one. It describes what Mastercard Incorporated's current financials imply about the next three to twelve months if the trends in them hold.

Constructive: Revenue growth of 14.1% gives MA room to grow into its multiple. Net margins of 46.3% mean that growth converts to profit rather than being spent to buy it. The main thing to watch over the next few quarters is whether those figures hold; the score is built on trailing data and will move if they do not.

Bull Case for MA

These are the Mastercard Incorporated figures that push the score up, taken straight from the most recent reported financials:

  • Revenue Growth (14.1%)
  • Gross Margin (100.0%)
  • Net Margin (46.3%)
  • Return on Equity (241.2%)

Bear Case & Risks for MA

These are the figures working against MA in the same model:

  • Debt/Equity (4.40)

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Guides to the specific measures used in this MA analysis:

Fundamental Analysis Guide

How the financial statements behind this page fit together.

Understanding P/E Ratio

What MA's 32.6x multiple does and does not tell you.

Return on Equity (ROE)

Why MA's 241.2% return on equity matters for stock selection.

Stock Valuation Methods

How DCF, multiples and asset-based approaches value a company like Mastercard Incorporated.

How to Read Earnings Reports

Where the MA growth and margin figures on this page come from.

What Are Demand Zones?

The technical side we deliberately keep out of the MA score.

Related Tools for MA

Demand Zone Analyzer MA Live Chart MA SEC Filing News Earnings Calendar Institutional Ownership Sector Scanner Average Down Calculator

MA SEC Filing News

Latest SEC filings for MA explained in plain English — insider buys/sells (Form 4), proposed sales (Form 144), material events (8-K), and quarterly & annual reports.

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View all MA SEC Filing News →

Frequently Asked Questions about MA

Is MA a good buy right now?
We do not issue buy or sell calls. MA has a Strong Buy Score of 80% (Strong Buy), which is a fundamentals rating, not a recommendation. That is at the strong end of our range: MA scores well on the fundamentals we weight most heavily. The score is helped most by revenue growth (14.1%). It is held back most by debt/equity (4.40). Read how scores work to see what each input contributes.
What is the MA stock forecast for 2026?
We publish a fundamentals outlook rather than a price target. For 2026 the MA view rests on revenue growth of 14.1%, a net margin of 46.3% and a trailing P/E of 32.6x, which together produce the 80% Strong Buy Score. Our methodology explains how those inputs are weighted.
What are key support and resistance levels for MA?
Support and resistance are technical levels, so they are not part of the fundamentals score. You can see current MA demand zones (support) and supply zones (resistance) on our demand zones page. With MA at $591.96, the tool shows how far the stock sits from the nearest zone.
Which companies are MA's closest peers?
On this page MA is compared with V, AXP, COF, PYPL. Compared against other Credit Services companies we cover, picked for having a similar market capitalisation to MA. The table puts MA's a gross margin of 100.0%, an ROE of 241.2%, a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40 next to the same figures for each peer.
What is Mastercard Incorporated's market cap and P/E ratio?
As of August 31, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) has a market cap of $518.56B, a trailing P/E of 32.6x and a forward P/E of 25.7x. Valuation is one of the inputs to the Strong Buy Score, alongside growth, margins, capital efficiency and balance-sheet strength.
Where does the MA data on this page come from?
Company financials come from Mastercard Incorporated's own filings with the SEC, with prices and consensus estimates from market data feeds; the figures on this page were last refreshed on August 31, 2026. Our data sources page lists every provider and how often each one is updated.
Is the MA analysis PDF report free?
Your first MA report is free and does not require a card. The score on this page is a five-factor screen; the report runs the deeper eight-section analysis, adding moat, free cash flow, share dilution and valuation work that is not on this page. Further reports are covered by a subscription; see pricing for the current plans.

This MA analysis is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All data is sourced from public filings and market feeds. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read our full disclaimer.