Alibaba Group (BABA) vs Mastercard (MA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Mastercard (MA) has outperformed Alibaba Group (BABA) over the past year, losing 1.7% versus a loss of 39.7%. Over five years, MA leads with a +60.1% price change compared with -35.0% for BABA. Mastercard is the larger company by market cap ($499.38 billion vs $266.19 billion), about 1.9 times the size.
On valuation, Alibaba Group trades at a lower forward P/E (11.6x vs 24.8x for Mastercard). Alibaba Group offers the higher dividend yield (6.77% vs 0.59%). Mastercard converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 45.6% versus 10.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BABA | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $107.00 | $570.06 |
| Market cap | $266.19B | $499.38B |
| 1-day change | -2.07% | +0.61% |
| YTD return | -25.46% | -0.14% |
| 1-year return | -39.75% | -1.69% |
| 5-year return | -34.96% | +60.13% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.49 | 31.36 |
| Forward P/E | 11.59 | 24.76 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.04 | $18.18 |
| Dividend yield | 6.77% | 0.59% |
| Annual dividend | $7.24 | $3.37 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $148.40B | $32.79B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.09% | +16.42% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $15.02B | $14.97B |
| Gross margin | 39.81% | — |
| Operating margin | 4.90% | 57.63% |
| Net margin | 10.12% | 45.65% |
| 52-week high | $182.50 | $601.23 |
| 52-week low | $91.99 | $464.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -41.37% | -5.18% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +73.35% | +16.95% |
| Average volume | 10.51M | 2.85M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.49B | 869.46M |
| Employees | 132,165 | 39,800 |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Internet Retail | Business Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MA has outperformed BABA by 38.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Alibaba Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.77% vs 0.59%).
- Mastercard is more profitable, keeping 45.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.1 cents for Alibaba Group.
- Mastercard grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.42% vs +8.09%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Alibaba Group in Consumer Cyclical and Mastercard in Consumer Discretionary.
About Alibaba Group
BABA stock →Alibaba Group Holding Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands, retailers, and other businesses in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through the Alibaba China E-Commerce Group, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, Cloud Intelligence Group, and All Others segments.
Consumer Cyclical · Internet Retail · 132,165 employees
About Mastercard
MA stock →Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers products and services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; consumer bill payment services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 39,800 employees
BABA vs MA FAQ
Which is bigger, Alibaba Group or Mastercard?
Mastercard (MA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $499.38B compared with $266.19B for Alibaba Group (BABA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BABA or MA?
MA returned -1.69% over the past 12 months, compared with -39.75% for BABA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BABA or MA?
BABA has the lower trailing P/E at 26.5, versus 31.4 for MA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alibaba Group or Mastercard?
Alibaba Group has the higher yield at 6.77%, compared with 0.59% for Mastercard.
Are Alibaba Group and Mastercard in the same industry?
No. Alibaba Group is in the Consumer Cyclical sector, while Mastercard is in Consumer Discretionary.