Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish on Mastercard Incorporated Stock?

With a market cap of $504.1 billion, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is a global technology company in the payments industry, operating in more than 220 countries and territories to power economies and connect people through secure, simple, and accessible digital payment solutions. By combining innovation, partnerships, and a trusted global network, Mastercard helps individuals, businesses, and governments build a more inclusive and resilient economy where everyone can prosper.

Shares of the Purchase, New York-based company have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. MA stock has risen marginally over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has returned 21.7%. Moreover, shares of the company are down marginally on a YTD basis, compared to SPX’s 12.8% gain. 

Focusing more closely, shares of Mastercard Incorporated have underperformed the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF’s (XLF) 12.1% rise over the past 52 weeks and 6.3% YTD return.

Mastercard Incorporated shares rose 2.5% on Jul. 30 because the company reported strong Q2 2026 results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, with adjusted EPS of $5.04 and revenue of $9.3 billion (up 14%). Investors were encouraged by robust transaction activity, as gross dollar volume increased 8% to $2.9 trillion, cross-border volumes rose 12%, and value-added services and solutions revenue grew 20%. The results signaled that consumer spending remained resilient, with strong spending by higher-income households and continued demand for travel, entertainment, fraud detection, cybersecurity, and data services supporting Mastercard’s growth outlook.

For the fiscal year ending in December 2026, analysts expect Mastercard Incorporated’s adjusted EPS to grow 16.3% year-over-year to $19.78. The company’s earnings surprise history is promising. It beat the consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters. 

Among the 42 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a “Strong Buy.” That’s based on 34 “Strong Buy” ratings, four “Moderate Buys,” and four “Holds.” 

This configuration is more bullish than three months ago, with 31 “Strong Buy” ratings on the stock.

On Jul. 31, BofA analyst Matthew O'Neill raised Mastercard's price target to $735 and maintained a “Buy” rating.

The mean price target of $657.58 represents a 15.7% premium to MA’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $735 suggests a 29.3% potential upside.