Compare StocksMA vs NOC

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) vs Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)

MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$491.14
VS
NOC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
$714.15

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.
NOC
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 31.1% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.

Risks

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.
NOC
  • Gross margin of 19.8% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • FCF yield of 2.8% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • 13 insider sales totaling $26.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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MA
NOC
Valuation
$16.27B
Free Cash Flow
$2.90B
3.71%
FCF Yield
2.85%
29.77
Trailing P/E
24.57
21.70
Forward P/E
23.78
Quality & Moat
54.23%
ROIC
15.85%
193.24%
ROE
25.08%
100.00%
Gross Margin
19.82%
1.23
PEG Ratio
1.62
Balance Sheet Safety
2.56
Debt / Equity
1.07
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.43
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.98
0.71%
Dividend Yield
1.29%
MA: 8Ties: 1NOC: 3
MANOC

Historical Fundamentals

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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.

NOC

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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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
NOC
$-0.38
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$6.82B
Δ Market Cap
$-2.60B
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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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
NOC
28.5% Overvalued
Price is 28.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $714.15
Fair Value: $555.65
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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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.

NOC

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $714?

+12.1%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +17.1%

The market implies +12.1% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +17.1%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
NOC
68/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability 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

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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.
NOC
-2.45
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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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.
NOC
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 83.5%Retail & Other 16.3%
No. of Institutional Holders2,192
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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MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
NOC
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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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
NOC
13
Sells (3M)
25
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $35.39M
SIMPSON KATHRYN G.
General Counsel
$650,385
@ $745.00 · 2026-03-02
ROEDER ROSHAN S.
Officer
$1.26M
@ $720.00 · 2026-02-27
HARDESTY MICHAEL A
Officer
$107,748
@ $732.98 · 2026-02-19
ROEDER ROSHAN S.
Officer
$372,541
@ $727.62 · 2026-02-19
SIMPSON KATHRYN G.
General Counsel
$141,158
@ $727.62 · 2026-02-19
DAVIES BENJAMIN R
Officer
$1.58M
@ $719.62 · 2026-02-18
HARDESTY MICHAEL A
Officer
$501,609
@ $701.55 · 2026-02-17
ROEDER ROSHAN S.
Officer
$223,414
@ $702.56 · 2026-02-17
SIMPSON KATHRYN G.
General Counsel
$547,294
@ $702.56 · 2026-02-17
HARDESTY MICHAEL A
Officer
$550,411
@ $702.95 · 2026-02-13
WARDEN KATHY J
Chief Executive Officer
$14.18M
@ $708.82 · 2026-02-06
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$65,029
@ $684.52 · 2026-02-02
WARDEN KATHY J
Chief Executive Officer
$6.04M
@ $604.50 · 2026-01-06
ROEDER ROSHAN S.
Officer
$46,649
@ $555.35 · 2025-12-09
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$54,716
@ $564.08 · 2025-11-24
JONES THOMAS H.
Officer
$382,725
@ $525.00 · 2025-07-17
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$16,720
@ $506.67 · 2025-07-07
JONES THOMAS H.
Officer
$368,706
@ $505.77 · 2025-06-13
FLEMING ROBERT J
Officer
$1.77M
@ $505.77 · 2025-06-13
WARDEN KATHY J
Chief Executive Officer
$5.65M
@ $502.18 · 2025-06-13
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$16,120
@ $488.48 · 2025-06-05
ROEDER ROSHAN S.
Officer
$485,590
@ $490.00 · 2025-06-04
JONES THOMAS H.
Officer
$349,920
@ $480.00 · 2025-05-30
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$16,293
@ $493.73 · 2025-05-05
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$15,850
@ $480.30 · 2025-04-07
WARDEN KATHY J
Chief Executive Officer
$1.78M
@ $475.65 · 2025-03-06
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$15,631
@ $473.67 · 2025-03-05
DAVIES BENJAMIN R
Officer
$213,788
@ $460.75 · 2025-02-28
HARDESTY MICHAEL A
Officer
$875,873
@ $453.59 · 2025-02-24
SIMPSON KATHRYN G.
General Counsel
$444,098
@ $429.08 · 2025-02-20
DAVIES BENJAMIN R
Officer
$82,383
@ $429.08 · 2025-02-20
SIMPSON KATHRYN G.
General Counsel
$395,916
@ $445.35 · 2025-02-18
DAVIES BENJAMIN R
Officer
$130,488
@ $445.35 · 2025-02-18
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$15,843
@ $480.09 · 2025-02-05
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$15,072
@ $456.73 · 2025-01-06
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$15,886
@ $481.39 · 2024-12-05
DAVIES BENJAMIN R
Officer
$616,067
@ $532.93 · 2024-11-11
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$16,833
@ $510.09 · 2024-11-05
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$17,675
@ $535.61 · 2024-10-07
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$17,151
@ $519.73 · 2024-09-05
WELSH MARK A. III
Director
$17,546
@ $516.06 · 2024-08-29
JONES THOMAS H.
Officer
$695,000
@ $500.00 · 2024-08-02
JONES THOMAS H.
Officer
$1.30M
@ $469.25 · 2024-07-26
ROEDER ROSHAN S.
Officer
$429,429
@ $471.90 · 2024-05-20
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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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.
NOC
FearGreed
😏Greed(61/100)

"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

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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)
NOC
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 (61)
View MA Full AnalysisView NOC Full Analysis
Mastercard Incorporated (MA) vs Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io