Mastercard (MA) vs PayPal (PYPL)
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 PayPal (PYPL) over the past year, losing 1.7% versus a loss of 26.4%. Over five years, MA leads with a +60.1% price change compared with -79.5% for PYPL. Mastercard is the larger company by market cap ($499.38 billion vs $47.01 billion), about 10.6 times the size.
On valuation, PayPal trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 24.8x for Mastercard). PayPal offers the higher dividend yield (1.02% vs 0.59%). Mastercard converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 45.6% versus 15.8%.
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 | MA | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $570.06 | $54.95 |
| Market cap | $499.38B | $47.01B |
| 1-day change | +0.61% | +0.62% |
| YTD return | -0.14% | -5.88% |
| 1-year return | -1.69% | -26.35% |
| 5-year return | +60.13% | -79.52% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 31.36 | 10.39 |
| Forward P/E | 24.76 | 9.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $18.18 | $5.29 |
| Dividend yield | 0.59% | 1.02% |
| Annual dividend | $3.37 | $0.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $32.79B | $33.17B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +16.42% | +4.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $14.97B | $5.23B |
| Operating margin | 57.63% | 18.28% |
| Net margin | 45.65% | 15.78% |
| 52-week high | $601.23 | $79.22 |
| 52-week low | $464.52 | $38.46 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.18% | -30.63% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.95% | +3.59% |
| Average volume | 2.85M | 14.04M |
| Shares outstanding | 869.46M | 855.46M |
| Employees | 39,800 | 23,800 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Business Services | Diversified Commercial 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
- Mastercard is about 10.6 times larger than PayPal by market value ($499.38B vs $47.01B).
- MA has outperformed PYPL by 24.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Mastercard trades at a higher earnings multiple (31.4x vs 10.4x trailing P/E).
- Mastercard is more profitable, keeping 45.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 15.8 cents for PayPal.
- Mastercard grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.42% vs +4.32%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Mastercard in Consumer Discretionary and PayPal in Industrials.
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
About PayPal
PYPL stock →PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform that enables digital payments for merchants and consumers worldwide.
Industrials · Diversified Commercial Services · 23,800 employees
MA vs PYPL FAQ
Which is bigger, Mastercard or PayPal?
Mastercard (MA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $499.38B compared with $47.01B for PayPal (PYPL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MA or PYPL?
MA returned -1.69% over the past 12 months, compared with -26.35% for PYPL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MA or PYPL?
PYPL has the lower trailing P/E at 10.4, 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, Mastercard or PayPal?
PayPal has the higher yield at 1.02%, compared with 0.59% for Mastercard.
Are Mastercard and PayPal in the same industry?
No. Mastercard is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while PayPal is in Industrials.