Compare StocksMA vs WM

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) vs Waste Management, Inc. (WM)

MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$491.14
VS
WM
Waste Management, Inc.
$233.83

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.
WM
  • Waste Management, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • Waste Management, Inc. scores 81/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 13.1% 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.
WM
  • FCF yield of 3.0% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • High leverage (2.39x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • 28 insider sales totaling $23.0M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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MA
WM
Valuation
$16.27B
Free Cash Flow
$2.82B
3.71%
FCF Yield
2.99%
29.77
Trailing P/E
34.85
21.70
Forward P/E
25.00
Quality & Moat
54.23%
ROIC
11.77%
193.24%
ROE
27.10%
100.00%
Gross Margin
40.44%
1.23
PEG Ratio
1.48
Balance Sheet Safety
2.56
Debt / Equity
2.39
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.43
Net Debt / EBITDA
3.14
0.71%
Dividend Yield
1.46%
MA: 9Ties: 1WM: 2
MAWM

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.

WM

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
WM
$6.02
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.08B
Δ Market Cap
+$24.54B
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
WM
57.1% Overvalued
Price is 57.1% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $233.83
Fair Value: $148.83
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.

WM

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $234?

+18.3%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +17.8%

The market implies +18.3% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +17.8%, 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.
WM
81/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by margin stability. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

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.
WM
-2.80
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.
WM
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 83.8%Retail & Other 15.9%
No. of Institutional Holders3,030
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
WM
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $392,840
MENKE SEAN EDWARD
Director
$392,840
@ $196.42 · 2025-11-03
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
WM
28
Sells (3M)
34
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $43.28M
MORRIS JOHN J JR.
President
$1.02M
@ $243.38 · 2026-03-09
REED DAVID L.
Chief Financial Officer
$18,394
@ $245.25 · 2026-03-09
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$11,529
@ $245.30 · 2026-03-09
DESANTIS CHRISTOPHER P
Officer
$14,976
@ $245.51 · 2026-03-09
VARKEY JOHNSON
Chief Technology Officer
$29,677
@ $245.26 · 2026-03-09
MORRIS JOHN J JR.
President
$1.96M
@ $245.07 · 2026-03-06
VARKEY JOHNSON
Chief Technology Officer
$150,628
@ $244.13 · 2026-03-03
HEMMER TARA J
Officer
$1.17M
@ $241.83 · 2026-03-02
STITH KIMBERLY G.
Officer
$5,106
@ $243.14 · 2026-03-02
REED DAVID L.
Chief Financial Officer
$5,096
@ $242.67 · 2026-03-02
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$4.17M
@ $241.81 · 2026-03-02
REED DAVID L.
Chief Financial Officer
$8,498
@ $229.68 · 2026-02-26
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$8,491
@ $229.49 · 2026-02-26
SMITH DONALD J
Officer
$2.85M
@ $233.48 · 2026-02-17
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$1.72M
@ $234.50 · 2026-02-13
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$239,634
@ $234.71 · 2026-02-11
FISH JAMES C JR
Chief Executive Officer
$8.47M
@ $230.43 · 2026-02-10
MORRIS JOHN J JR.
President
$151,445
@ $219.49 · 2026-01-30
BOETTCHER CHARLES C
Officer
$151,111
@ $219.32 · 2026-01-30
HEMMER TARA J
Officer
$151,596
@ $219.70 · 2026-01-30
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$150,996
@ $219.79 · 2026-01-30
REED DAVID L.
Chief Financial Officer
$59,028
@ $218.62 · 2026-01-30
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$151,114
@ $219.01 · 2026-01-30
SMITH DONALD J
Officer
$151,514
@ $219.59 · 2026-01-30
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$48,306
@ $219.57 · 2026-01-30
DESANTIS CHRISTOPHER P
Officer
$47,053
@ $218.85 · 2026-01-30
VARKEY JOHNSON
Chief Technology Officer
$94,004
@ $219.64 · 2026-01-30
STITH KIMBERLY G.
Officer
$34,485
@ $219.65 · 2026-01-30
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$299,543
@ $217.06 · 2025-11-20
STITH KIMBERLY G.
Officer
$22,520
@ $225.20 · 2025-09-04
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$465,840
@ $240.00 · 2025-05-30
RANKIN DEVINA A
Chief Financial Officer
$13.74M
@ $237.36 · 2025-05-27
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$159,610
@ $236.81 · 2025-05-27
MORRIS JOHN J JR.
Chief Operating Officer
$5.55M
@ $233.32 · 2025-05-02
MORRIS JOHN J JR.
Chief Operating Officer
$4.30M
@ $224.71 · 2025-03-07
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$282,626
@ $225.92 · 2025-03-07
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$212,540
@ $229.03 · 2025-03-06
RANKIN DEVINA A
Chief Financial Officer
$941,182
@ $228.11 · 2025-03-05
HEMMER TARA J
Officer
$705,772
@ $228.11 · 2025-03-05
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$352,886
@ $228.11 · 2025-03-05
SMITH DONALD J
Officer
$10,097
@ $234.81 · 2025-03-03
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$11,034
@ $234.77 · 2025-03-03
DESANTIS CHRISTOPHER P
Officer
$10,567
@ $234.82 · 2025-03-03
VARKEY JOHNSON
Chief Technology Officer
$29,134
@ $234.95 · 2025-03-03
STITH KIMBERLY G.
Officer
$14,556
@ $234.77 · 2025-03-03
FISH JAMES C JR
Chief Executive Officer
$10.14M
@ $228.43 · 2025-02-24
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$1.30M
@ $227.51 · 2025-02-24
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$903,562
@ $225.89 · 2025-02-07
RANKIN DEVINA A
Chief Financial Officer
$1.29M
@ $222.12 · 2025-02-04
HEMMER TARA J
Officer
$1.02M
@ $222.12 · 2025-02-04
VARKEY JOHNSON
Officer
$70,892
@ $222.93 · 2025-02-04
MORRIS JOHN J JR.
Chief Operating Officer
$152,869
@ $220.59 · 2025-01-31
RANKIN DEVINA A
Chief Financial Officer
$152,855
@ $220.57 · 2025-01-31
BOETTCHER CHARLES C
Officer
$152,870
@ $220.59 · 2025-01-31
HEMMER TARA J
Officer
$152,744
@ $220.41 · 2025-01-31
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$152,630
@ $220.25 · 2025-01-31
CARRASCO RAFAEL
Officer
$152,758
@ $220.43 · 2025-01-31
SMITH DONALD J
Officer
$42,062
@ $220.22 · 2025-01-31
CARROLL JOHN A
Officer
$46,095
@ $220.55 · 2025-01-31
DESANTIS CHRISTOPHER P
Officer
$44,072
@ $220.36 · 2025-01-31
VARKEY JOHNSON
Chief Technology Officer
$123,260
@ $220.11 · 2025-01-31
STITH KIMBERLY G.
Officer
$41,147
@ $220.04 · 2025-01-31
SYLVESTER MARYROSE T
Director
$66,796
@ $215.47 · 2024-11-05
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$330,000
@ $220.00 · 2024-07-16
WATSON MICHAEL J.
Officer
$859,631
@ $204.28 · 2024-06-06
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.
WM
FearGreed
😐Neutral(59/100)

"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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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)
WM
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 (59)
View MA Full AnalysisView WM Full Analysis
Mastercard Incorporated (MA) vs Waste Management, Inc. (WM) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io