Mastercard Incorporated (MA)
Mastercard runs a global payments network that processes card and digital transactions for banks and merchants. Like its main rival, it profits from payment volumes rather than carrying credit risk.
Financials stock comparison
MA vs PYPL: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Mastercard Incorporated with PayPal Holdings, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Financials
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-11
MA vs PYPL: quick comparison
| Company fact | MA | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Mastercard Incorporated | PayPal Holdings, Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Purchase, New York | — |
| Founded | 1966 | — |
| SEC industry | Services-Business Services, NEC | Services-Business Services, NEC |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-11 | 10-K · 2026-02-03 |
MA vs PYPL: audited financials
PYPL reported revenue roughly in line with MA in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, MA converted a larger share of revenue into net income (45.6% versus 15.8%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | MA | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $32.8B | $33.2B |
| Net income | $15.0B | $5.2B |
| Operating cash flow | $17.6B | $6.4B |
| Diluted EPS | $16.52 | $5.41 |
| Net margin | 45.6% | 15.8% |
MA: FY ending 2025-12-31 · PYPL: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
MA and PYPL share the SEC industry classification “Services-Business Services, NEC,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL)
PayPal operates digital-payment platforms including PayPal, Venmo, and Braintree for online and in-store commerce.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. MA is classified by the SEC as Services-Business Services, NEC, while PYPL is classified as Services-Business Services, NEC. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study MA when…
- The shape of the yield curve and net interest margins
- Credit quality and loan-loss provisions
- Regulation and capital requirements
- Deal activity and market volatility
Study PYPL when…
- The shape of the yield curve and net interest margins
- Credit quality and loan-loss provisions
- Regulation and capital requirements
- Deal activity and market volatility
Shared research themes
International markets
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.MA's fiscal year ends December 31, while PYPL's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 27matched transaction rows for MAand 36 for PYPL. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
MA primary filings
PYPL primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving MA or PYPL
MA vs PYPL FAQs
Are MA and PYPL direct competitors?
Mastercard Incorporated and PayPal Holdings, Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Services-Business Services, NEC.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, MA or PYPL?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this MA vs PYPL comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Mastercard Incorporated and PayPal Holdings, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
MA vs PYPL shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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