Compare StocksEFX vs MA

Equifax Inc. (EFX) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

EFX
Equifax Inc.
$181.50
VS
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$491.14

Rewards

EFX
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 104.5% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $1.94 of market value — management is creating shareholder value.
  • Trailing P/E of 34.1x is 25% below the historical average of 45.6x — potentially undervalued relative to its own history.
MA
  • Mastercard Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Mastercard Incorporated scores 99/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

EFX
  • PEG ratio of 14.22 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
  • Insiders have sold $10.4M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
MA
  • High leverage (2.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Insiders have sold $4.5M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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EFX
MA
Valuation
$1.00B
Free Cash Flow
$16.27B
4.51%
FCF Yield
3.71%
34.12
Trailing P/E
29.77
17.53
Forward P/E
21.70
Quality & Moat
8.71%
ROIC
54.23%
13.94%
ROE
193.24%
56.45%
Gross Margin
100.00%
14.22
PEG Ratio
1.23
Balance Sheet Safety
1.11
Debt / Equity
2.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.71
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.43
1.13%
Dividend Yield
0.71%
EFX: 4Ties: 1MA: 7
EFXMA

Historical Fundamentals

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EFX

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

MA

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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EFX
$1.94
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$1.19B
Δ Market Cap
+$2.32B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MA
$5.62
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$31.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$177.96B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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EFX
4.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 4.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $181.50
Fair Value: $189.27
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MA
12.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 12.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $491.14
Fair Value: $558.06
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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EFX

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $182?

+17.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +11.9%

The market implies +17.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +11.9%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

MA

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $491?

+13.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.0%

The market implies +13.2% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +12.0%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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EFX
62/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
MA
99/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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EFX
-2.83
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MA
-2.53
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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EFX
Insiders 0.7%Institutions 98.7%Retail & Other 0.6%
No. of Institutional Holders1,238
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MA
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 91.1%Retail & Other 8.3%
No. of Institutional Holders4,864
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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EFX
1
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $464,928
MAO CECILIA H.
Officer
$464,928
@ $193.72 · 2026-02-18
FICHUK KAREN LINN
Director
$99,090
@ $238.77 · 2024-05-09
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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EFX
4
Sells (3M)
10
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $30.76M
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$880,740
@ $195.72 · 2026-02-23
BORTON CHAD M
Officer
$485,452
@ $191.50 · 2026-02-12
FARSHCHI JAMIL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.45M
@ $196.45 · 2026-02-11
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$7.63M
@ $201.89 · 2026-02-10
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$520,925
@ $208.37 · 2025-11-20
FARSHCHI JAMIL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.18M
@ $238.94 · 2025-10-27
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$742,050
@ $247.35 · 2025-08-18
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$11.67M
@ $241.71 · 2025-07-28
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$518,200
@ $259.10 · 2025-05-06
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$5.69M
@ $256.61 · 2025-04-28
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$848,085
@ $242.31 · 2025-02-28
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$5.60M
@ $252.63 · 2025-02-13
FARSHCHI JAMIL
Chief Technology Officer
$4.69M
@ $248.18 · 2025-02-12
NELSON LISA M
Officer
$136,995
@ $248.18 · 2025-02-12
FARSHCHI JAMIL
Chief Technology Officer
$3.83M
@ $260.39 · 2024-11-26
NELSON LISA M
Officer
$143,475
@ $260.39 · 2024-11-26
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$15.77M
@ $270.49 · 2024-10-25
KELLEY JOHN J III
Officer
$272,920
@ $272.92 · 2024-10-25
KELLEY JOHN J III
Officer
$914,977
@ $304.99 · 2024-08-28
CHANEY CARLA
Officer
$845,544
@ $281.85 · 2024-08-07
CHANEY CARLA
Officer
$838,440
@ $279.48 · 2024-08-01
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$373,260
@ $276.49 · 2024-07-30
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$15.71M
@ $269.47 · 2024-07-26
HOUSTON JULIA A
Officer
$1.10M
@ $228.63 · 2024-05-31
CHANEY CARLA
Officer
$937,874
@ $228.53 · 2024-05-31
GRIGGS JAMES M.
Officer
$91,483
@ $228.71 · 2024-05-31
GAMBLE JOHN W JR
Chief Operating Officer
$836,732
@ $229.24 · 2024-05-30
HOUSTON JULIA A
Officer
$1.02M
@ $238.63 · 2024-05-24
CHANEY CARLA
Officer
$1.24M
@ $238.63 · 2024-05-24
GRIGGS JAMES M.
Officer
$575,015
@ $238.60 · 2024-05-24
BEGOR MARK W.
Chief Executive Officer
$13.14M
@ $225.45 · 2024-04-26
PLODER RODOLFO O
Officer
$3.18M
@ $225.45 · 2024-04-26
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MA
1
Sells (3M)
19
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $64.44M
LING HAI
Officer
$4.48M
@ $499.20 · 2026-02-24
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.20M
@ $591.00 · 2025-09-02
LING HAI
Officer
$2.69M
@ $600.00 · 2025-08-22
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.46M
@ $586.89 · 2025-08-19
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.83M
@ $566.46 · 2025-08-05
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$178,049
@ $570.67 · 2025-07-07
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-30
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$601,447
@ $546.77 · 2025-06-27
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$173,910
@ $561.00 · 2025-06-24
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-24
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$508,474
@ $535.80 · 2025-06-20
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.02M
@ $532.97 · 2025-06-20
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$1.76M
@ $561.78 · 2025-06-16
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$549,373
@ $572.86 · 2025-06-13
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.55M
@ $588.18 · 2025-06-12
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$8.22M
@ $585.05 · 2025-06-05
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$218,223
@ $577.31 · 2025-05-15
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$257,535
@ $572.30 · 2025-05-12
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$8.68M
@ $550.16 · 2025-03-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$3.81M
@ $534.68 · 2025-03-19
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.12M
@ $556.14 · 2025-03-05
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$9.78M
@ $553.76 · 2025-03-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.19M
@ $562.72 · 2025-02-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$6.18M
@ $564.99 · 2025-02-18
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$7.97M
@ $565.00 · 2025-02-18
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$10.17M
@ $564.95 · 2025-02-18
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.36M
@ $500.44 · 2024-11-01
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.30M
@ $491.03 · 2024-09-27
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.29M
@ $489.86 · 2024-09-20
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$550,000
@ $500.00 · 2024-09-17
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.31M
@ $493.10 · 2024-09-13
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$528,000
@ $480.00 · 2024-08-29
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.19M
@ $468.80 · 2024-08-22
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.03M
@ $467.02 · 2024-08-21
LING HAI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.16M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$6.11M
@ $455.00 · 2024-08-05
LING HAI
Officer
$1.35M
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$512,006
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.07M
@ $451.06 · 2024-06-20
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.34M
@ $446.24 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$47.72M
@ $445.98 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$49.51M
@ $442.03 · 2024-06-13
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.11M
@ $449.66 · 2024-06-12
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$50.61M
@ $447.85 · 2024-06-10
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.71M
@ $443.93 · 2024-06-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.04M
@ $447.28 · 2024-06-05
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.31M
@ $441.57 · 2024-06-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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EFX
FearGreed
😨Fear(28/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MA
FearGreed
😐Neutral(42/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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EFX
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (28)
MA
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (42)
View EFX Full AnalysisView MA Full Analysis