Compare StocksMA vs NDAQ

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) vs Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ)

MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$503.04
VS
NDAQ
Nasdaq, Inc.
$92.65

Rewards

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.
NDAQ
  • Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.09 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
  • PEG ratio of 0.83 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.

Risks

MA
  • 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.
NDAQ
  • Share count has increased by 16% over the past 4 years, diluting existing shareholders.
  • FCF yield of 3.0% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • Insiders have sold $21.2M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

Learn more →
MA
NDAQ
Valuation
$16.15B
Free Cash Flow
$1.56B
3.63%
FCF Yield
2.98%
29.09
Trailing P/E
27.91
22.11
Forward P/E
20.94
Quality & Moat
63.51%
ROIC
9.61%
222.67%
ROE
14.85%
100.00%
Gross Margin
100.00%
1.37
PEG Ratio
0.83
Balance Sheet Safety
2.82
Debt / Equity
0.79
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.50
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.79
0.70%
Dividend Yield
1.23%
MA: 5Ties: 3NDAQ: 4
MANDAQ

Historical Fundamentals

Learn more →
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.

NDAQ

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

Learn more →
MA
$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
NDAQ
$10.58
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$2.38B
Δ Market Cap
+$25.19B
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

Learn more →
MA
11.8% Margin of Safety
Price is 11.8% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $503.04
Fair Value: $570.42
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
NDAQ
24.6% Overvalued
Price is 24.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $92.65
Fair Value: $74.38
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

Learn more →
MA

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $503?

+13.4%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.4%

The market implies +13.4% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +12.4%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

NDAQ

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $93?

+15.1%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +16.9%

The market implies +15.1% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +16.9%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

Learn more →
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.
NDAQ
53/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency 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.

Forensic Accounting

Learn more →
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.
NDAQ
-2.58
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

Learn more →
MA
Insiders 0.6%Institutions 91.3%Retail & Other 8.1%
No. of Institutional Holders4,775
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.
NDAQ
Insiders 10.9%Institutions 87.2%Retail & Other 1.9%
No. of Institutional Holders1,518
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

Learn more →
MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
NDAQ
2
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $16.79M
TORGEBY JOHAN
Director
$958,320
@ $79.86 · 2026-02-17
INVESTOR AB
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$15.84M
@ $79.18 · 2026-02-13
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

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

Insider Selling Activity

Learn more →
MA
1
Sells (3M)
18
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
NDAQ
7
Sells (3M)
25
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $84.66M
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Chief Technology Officer
$700,222
@ $90.82 · 2026-04-28
TAL COHEN
Officer
$1.41M
@ $90.75 · 2026-04-27
DALY MICHELLE LYNN
Officer
$117,513
@ $88.82 · 2026-04-24
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$9.71M
@ $85.44 · 2026-04-01
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$8.36M
@ $90.08 · 2026-03-06
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$523,440
@ $87.24 · 2026-03-02
DALY MICHELLE LYNN
Officer
$352,934
@ $81.34 · 2026-02-19
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$29.07M
@ $96.91 · 2026-02-02
ZECCA JOHN
Officer
$450,045
@ $100.01 · 2026-01-06
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$28.92M
@ $96.39 · 2026-01-02
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$190,650
@ $90.57 · 2025-12-01
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$419,611
@ $90.57 · 2025-12-01
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$179,767
@ $85.40 · 2025-11-03
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$185,703
@ $88.22 · 2025-10-01
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$196,228
@ $93.22 · 2025-09-02
BEGLEY CHARLENE T
Director
$289,800
@ $96.60 · 2025-08-04
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$201,006
@ $95.49 · 2025-08-01
DALY MICHELLE LYNN
Officer
$812,174
@ $93.45 · 2025-07-25
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Chief Technology Officer
$1.02M
@ $88.87 · 2025-07-02
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$187,703
@ $89.17 · 2025-07-01
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$178,840
@ $85.00 · 2025-06-06
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$340,880
@ $85.22 · 2025-06-06
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$87,694
@ $83.28 · 2025-06-02
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$664,240
@ $83.03 · 2025-05-27
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$85,841
@ $81.52 · 2025-05-12
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$47,179
@ $71.81 · 2025-04-04
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$237,078
@ $75.70 · 2025-04-02
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Chief Investment Officer
$174,646
@ $75.67 · 2025-04-02
YOUNGWOOD SARAH
Officer
$1.10M
@ $73.68 · 2025-03-17
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$289,730
@ $82.78 · 2025-03-03
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$1.36M
@ $79.79 · 2025-02-26
TAL COHEN
Officer
$749,981
@ $83.75 · 2025-02-06
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$285,460
@ $81.56 · 2025-02-03
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$976,485
@ $80.88 · 2024-12-09
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$950,906
@ $78.75 · 2024-11-18
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$940,636
@ $79.58 · 2024-11-13
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$798,600
@ $79.86 · 2024-11-11
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$935,040
@ $77.92 · 2024-11-06
GRIGGS P C NELSON
President
$444,086
@ $77.34 · 2024-11-06
TAL COHEN
Officer
$806,651
@ $74.11 · 2024-11-01
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$758,460
@ $75.85 · 2024-10-29
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$1.03M
@ $75.32 · 2024-10-28
ZECCA JOHN
Officer
$791,670
@ $71.97 · 2024-09-12
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$2.71M
@ $67.79 · 2024-08-09
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 →
MA
FearGreed
😐Neutral(47/100)

"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.
NDAQ
FearGreed
😏Greed(63/100)

"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.

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

Learn more →
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 (47)
NDAQ
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 (63)
View MA Full AnalysisView NDAQ Full Analysis
MA vs NDAQ: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io