IRM vs MA: Which Is the Better Buy?

Compare Stocks › IRM vs MA

IRM

Iron Mountain Incorporated

$127.19

Mastercard Incorporated

$495.46

Rewards

IRM

★PEG ratio of 0.16 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.

★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

IRM

⚠Net debt/EBITDA of 7.9x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.
⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.83 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
⚠10 insider sales totaling $63.6M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

⚠High leverage (2.82x 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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IRM

Valuation

$-499.46M

Free Cash Flow

$16.15B

-1.32%

FCF Yield

3.69%

138.25

Trailing P/E

28.66

47.57

Forward P/E

21.78

Quality & Moat

6.08%

ROIC

63.51%

N/A

ROE

222.67%

55.02%

Gross Margin

100.00%

0.16

PEG Ratio

1.35

Balance Sheet Safety

N/A

Debt / Equity

2.82

N/A

Interest Coverage

N/A

7.95

Net Debt / EBITDA

0.50

2.72%

Dividend Yield

0.70%

IRM: 2Ties: 1MA: 7

IRMMA

Historical Fundamentals

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IRM

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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IRM

N/A

Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable

Company had negative cumulative retained earnings

Σ Retained

$-1.94B

Δ Market Cap

+$10.04B

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

$5.61

created per $1 retained over 3 years

Exceptional Value Creator

Σ Retained

$31.68B

Δ Market Cap

+$177.79B

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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IRM

Insufficient Data

Enter initial FCF to calculate intrinsic value

Current Price: $127.19

Strongly undervalued

Strongly overvalued

Fair Value: $0.00

Strongly undervalued

Undervalued

Fairly valued

Overvalued

Strongly overvalued

13.1% Margin of Safety

Price is 13.1% below estimated fair value

Current Price: $495.46

Strongly undervalued

Undervalued

Fairly valued

Overvalued

Strongly overvalued

Fair Value: $570.42

Strongly undervalued

Undervalued

Fairly valued

Overvalued

Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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IRM

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $495?

+13.2%

Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth

Standard FCF implies +12.2%

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

Standard FCF implies +12.2%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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IRM

53/100

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.

99/100

Wide Moat

70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

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

Forensic Accounting

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IRM

-2.66

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.

-2.53

Unlikely Manipulator

Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Ownership Breakdown

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IRM

Insiders 0.9%Institutions 87.9%Retail & Other 11.2%

No. of Institutional Holders1,408

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.

Insiders 0.6%Institutions 91.3%Retail & Other 8.1%

No. of Institutional Holders4,775

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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IRM

Buys (3M)

Buys (12M)

Total value (12M): $2,954

KELLY CHRISTIE BARTON

Director

$2,954

@ $89.52 · 2025-11-19

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

Buys (3M)

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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IRM

Sells (3M)

Sells (12M)

Total value (12M): $124.01M

KIDD MARK

Officer

$616,260

@ $102.71 · 2026-04-01

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.95M

@ $102.71 · 2026-04-01

BHARGAVA MITHU

Officer

$6.25M

@ $104.62 · 2026-03-19

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$10.48M

@ $106.25 · 2026-03-05

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$21.13M

@ $107.10 · 2026-03-04

ALLERTON JENNIFER

Director

$762,160

@ $108.88 · 2026-03-02

KIDD MARK

Officer

$643,620

@ $107.27 · 2026-03-02

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$15.00M

@ $109.39 · 2026-03-02

KIDD MARK

Officer

$649,020

@ $108.17 · 2026-02-20

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$4.16M

@ $108.17 · 2026-02-20

KIDD MARK

Officer

$498,600

@ $83.10 · 2026-01-02

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.20M

@ $83.17 · 2026-01-02

KIDD MARK

Officer

$510,000

@ $85.00 · 2025-12-01

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$5.76M

@ $83.34 · 2025-12-01

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$7.10M

@ $102.75 · 2025-11-03

KIDD MARK

Officer

$615,060

@ $102.51 · 2025-11-03

KIDD MARK

Officer

$736,591

@ $100.82 · 2025-10-31

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$7.07M

@ $102.34 · 2025-10-01

KIDD MARK

Officer

$609,780

@ $101.63 · 2025-10-01

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$6.19M

@ $89.56 · 2025-09-03

KIDD MARK

Officer

$546,300

@ $91.05 · 2025-09-02

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$6.54M

@ $94.55 · 2025-08-01

KIDD MARK

Officer

$583,200

@ $97.20 · 2025-08-01

MCINTOSH GREG W

Officer

$1.69M

@ $97.20 · 2025-08-01

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$6.94M

@ $100.36 · 2025-07-01

KIDD MARK

Officer

$612,120

@ $102.02 · 2025-07-01

MCINTOSH GREG W

Officer

$1.73M

@ $100.00 · 2025-07-01

RAKOWICH WALTER C.

Director

$89,973

@ $99.97 · 2025-06-04

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$6.83M

@ $98.77 · 2025-06-02

MCINTOSH GREG W

Officer

$1.70M

@ $98.19 · 2025-06-02

MCINTOSH GREG W

Officer

$807,384

@ $96.14 · 2025-05-22

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$6.64M

@ $96.09 · 2025-05-02

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$5.95M

@ $86.11 · 2025-04-01

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$21.25M

@ $89.50 · 2025-03-04

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$21.25M

@ $89.50 · 2025-03-04

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$15.76M

@ $91.33 · 2025-03-03

BORGES DANIEL

Officer

$597,240

@ $92.84 · 2025-03-03

BHARGAVA MITHU

Officer

$161,356

@ $92.84 · 2025-03-03

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$6.90M

@ $99.83 · 2025-02-03

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$7.25M

@ $104.85 · 2025-01-02

BHARGAVA MITHU

Officer

$863,401

@ $104.49 · 2024-12-23

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.60M

@ $113.55 · 2024-12-11

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.76M

@ $118.47 · 2024-11-11

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.73M

@ $117.52 · 2024-10-08

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.70M

@ $116.43 · 2024-09-18

MURDOCK WENDY J

Director

$989,230

@ $116.38 · 2024-09-17

MARSON DEBORAH

General Counsel

$406,296

@ $112.86 · 2024-09-03

BAKER-GREENE EDWARD

Officer

$248,254

@ $109.75 · 2024-08-20

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$3.46M

@ $109.08 · 2024-08-20

TOMOVCSIK JOHN

Chief Operating Officer

$110,000

@ $110.00 · 2024-08-19

MARSON DEBORAH

General Counsel

$498,741

@ $107.58 · 2024-08-09

TOMOVCSIK JOHN

Chief Operating Officer

$300,930

@ $105.00 · 2024-08-01

TOMOVCSIK JOHN

Chief Operating Officer

$250,000

@ $100.00 · 2024-07-16

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$2.93M

@ $92.23 · 2024-07-09

TOMOVCSIK JOHN

Chief Operating Officer

$3.11M

@ $88.76 · 2024-06-20

BAKER-GREENE EDWARD

Officer

$547,770

@ $88.35 · 2024-06-20

HYTINEN BARRY A

Chief Financial Officer

$794,790

@ $88.31 · 2024-06-18

BORGES DANIEL

Officer

$268,739

@ $86.83 · 2024-06-17

MCINTOSH GREG W

Officer

$1.22M

@ $87.41 · 2024-06-13

RAKOWICH WALTER C.

Director

$77,589

@ $81.33 · 2024-06-05

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$2.56M

@ $80.71 · 2024-06-04

MEANEY WILLIAM L

Chief Executive Officer

$2.60M

@ $81.88 · 2024-05-16

MURDOCK WENDY J

Director

$275,247

@ $77.60 · 2024-05-07

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

Sells (3M)

Sells (12M)

Total value (12M): $55.77M

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

KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA

Officer

$536,480

@ $560.00 · 2025-06-24

GENACHOWSKI JULIUS

Director

$173,910

@ $561.00 · 2025-06-24

VOSBURG CRAIG

Officer

$5.02M

@ $532.97 · 2025-06-20

SESHADRI RAJEEV

Officer

$508,474

@ $535.80 · 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

MIEBACH MICHAEL

Chief Executive Officer

$9.78M

@ $553.76 · 2025-03-05

VOSBURG CRAIG

Officer

$6.12M

@ $556.14 · 2025-03-05

VOSBURG CRAIG

Officer

$6.19M

@ $562.72 · 2025-02-26

MIEBACH MICHAEL

Chief Executive Officer

$10.17M

@ $564.95 · 2025-02-18

VOSBURG CRAIG

Officer

$7.97M

@ $565.00 · 2025-02-18

MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE

Officer

$6.18M

@ $564.99 · 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

MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security

$47.72M

@ $445.98 · 2024-06-17

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

$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

VOSBURG CRAIG

Officer

$4.04M

@ $447.28 · 2024-06-05

SESHADRI RAJEEV

Officer

$3.71M

@ $443.93 · 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

Learn more →

IRM

😏Greed(73/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

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.

😐Neutral(45/100)

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

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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IRM

⚪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: Greed (73)

⚪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 (45)

View IRM Full Analysis View MA Full Analysis

Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

Rewards

Risks

Key Valuation Metrics

Historical Fundamentals

$1 Retained Earnings Test

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

Economic Moat Score

Forensic Accounting

M-Score Trend

M-Score Trend

Ownership Breakdown

Insider Buying Activity

Insider Selling Activity

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

⚖️ Buffett Signal