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Mastercard vs PayPal

Mastercard and PayPal are similar in size: $32.79bn and $33.17bn of revenue in their latest fiscal years. Mastercard grew faster (16.4% against 4.3%). Mastercard kept more of each dollar of sales as profit: a net margin of 45.6% against 15.8%. PayPal carries less debt relative to equity (57.2% against 247.5%).

Latest fiscal yearMastercardMA, 2025PayPalPYPL, 2025
Revenue $32.79bn $33.17bn
Revenue growth 16.4% 4.3%
Net income $14.97bn $5.23bn
Operating margin 57.6% 18.3%
Net margin 45.6% 15.8%
Return on equity — 25.7%
Free cash flow $17.16bn $5.56bn
Cash $10.57bn $8.05bn
Total debt $19.15bn $11.58bn
Debt to equity 247.5% 57.2%
Dividend per share $3.15 $0.14
Dividend yield 0.5% 1.0%
Share buybacks $11.73bn $6.05bn
Employees — 23,800
Market value $576.50bn $49.20bn
Price vs our value range Within our value range Below our value range
Moat score 95 (Strong) 66 (Moderate)
Insider trades, 12 months 0 buys, 74 sales 1 buys, 38 sales

Each figure is from the company's latest annual report and links to the page it comes from. Fiscal years can end on different dates. Market value and the value verdict use the delayed price shown on the stock pages. Not a recommendation.

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Figures from each company's latest annual report filed with the SEC (10-K or 20-F), as reported, with the fiscal year shown. Not investment advice. How we read filings: methodology.