Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MA | 16.4% revenue growth vs EZPW's 9.7% |
| Value | EZPW | Lower P/E (14.8x vs 26.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | MA | 45.6% net margin vs EZPW's 8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | EZPW | Beta 0.34 vs MA's 0.78, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MA | 0.6% yield; 14-year raise streak; EZPW pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | EZPW | +92.8% vs MA's -9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MA | 27.6% ROA vs EZPW's 6.2%, ROIC 56.5% vs 7.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
EZCORP operates a chain of pawn shops across the United States and Latin America, providing short-term collateralized loans and selling secondhand merchandise. It generates revenue primarily from pawn loan interest and fees (roughly 60-70% of total) and merchandise sales from forfeited collateral and purchased goods (30-40%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive physical store network—over 1,100 locations—and proprietary digital platforms that streamline pawn operations and customer engagement.
Mastercard is a global payment technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments. It generates revenue primarily from transaction processing fees—charging a small percentage of each payment volume—and from service fees for its data analytics, consulting, and security solutions. The company's moat lies in its massive two-sided network effect—the more merchants accept Mastercard, the more valuable it becomes to cardholders, and vice versa—creating a powerful ecosystem that's difficult to replicate.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
MA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EZPW leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MA is the larger business by revenue, generating $32.8B annually — 25.7x EZPW's $1.3B. MA is the more profitable business, keeping 45.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to EZPW's 8.6%.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $32.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $201M | $20.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $123M | $15.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $131M | $17.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.5% | +83.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +59.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +45.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +52.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +37.5% | +24.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.7x trailing earnings, EZPW trades at a 40% valuation discount to MA's 31.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EZPW's 10.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MA's 22.7x.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $457.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.9B | $465.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.68x | 31.31x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.80x | 26.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.49x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.63x | 22.67x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.28x | 13.96x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.16x | 59.96x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.82x | 26.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MA delivers a 193.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $193 in annual profit, vs $11 for EZPW. EZPW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MA's 2.45x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MA scores 9/9 vs EZPW's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.5% | +193.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.2% | +27.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.1% | +56.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.0% | +64.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.75x | 2.45x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $295M | $7.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $470M | $11.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $764M | $19.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.47x | 26.39x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EZPW five years ago would be worth $53,704 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,586 for MA. Over the past 12 months, EZPW leads with a +92.8% total return vs MA's -9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EZPW at 44.4% vs MA's 13.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +32.3% | -8.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +92.8% | -9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +200.8% | +47.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +437.0% | +45.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +814.8% | +515.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +44.4% | +13.9% |
Risk & Volatility
EZPW is the less volatile stock with a 0.34 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MA's 0.78 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. EZPW currently trades 99.8% from its 52-week high vs MA's 85.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.34x | 0.78x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.58 | $601.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.85 | $465.59 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.8% | +85.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.9 | 42.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 800K | 3.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EZPW as "Buy" and MA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 29.0% upside for MA (target: $667) vs 2.7% for EZPW (target: $27). MA is the only dividend payer here at 0.59% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | EZPWEZCORP, Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.25 | $667.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 63 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +2.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | 100 | 449.69 | +349.7% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 100 | 181.06 | +81.1% |
EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) returned +437% over 5 years vs Mastercard Incorpor… (MA)'s +46%. A $10,000 investment in EZPW 5 years ago would be worth $53,704 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | $731M | $1.3B | +74.4% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | $10.8B | $32.8B | +204.3% |
EZCORP, Inc.'s revenue grew from $731M (2016) to $1.3B (2025) — a 6.4% CAGR. Mastercard Incorporated's revenue grew from $10.8B (2016) to $32.8B (2025) — a 13.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | -11.1% | 8.6% | +177.8% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 37.7% | 45.6% | +21.2% |
EZCORP, Inc.'s net margin went from -11% (2016) to 9% (2025). Mastercard Incorporated's net margin went from 38% (2016) to 46% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | 19.7 | 13.7 | -30.5% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 41.5 | 34.6 | -16.6% |
EZCORP, Inc. has traded in a 11x–216x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x. Mastercard Incorporated has traded in a 34x–56x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~31x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) | -1.48 | 1.42 | +195.9% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 3.69 | 16.52 | +347.7% |
EZCORP, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.48 (2016) to $1.42 (2025). Mastercard Incorporated's EPS grew from $3.69 (2016) to $16.52 (2025) — a 18% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
EZCORP, Inc. generated $110M FCF in 2025 (+384% vs 2021). Mastercard Incorporated generated $17B FCF in 2025 (+98% vs 2021).
EZPW vs MA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EZPW or MA a better buy right now?
EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) offers the better valuation at 18.7x trailing P/E (14.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) a "Buy" — based on 15 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — EZPW or MA?
On trailing P/E, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) is the cheapest at 18.7x versus Mastercard Incorporated at 31.3x. On forward P/E, EZCORP, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EZPW or MA?
Over the past 5 years, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) delivered a total return of +437.0%, compared to +45.9% for Mastercard Incorporated (MA). A $10,000 investment in EZPW five years ago would be worth approximately $54K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EZPW returned +814.8% versus MA's +515.7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — EZPW or MA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) is the lower-risk stock at 0.34β versus Mastercard Incorporated's 0.78β — meaning MA is approximately 129% more volatile than EZPW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 2% for Mastercard Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EZPW or MA?
Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the more profitable company, earning 45.6% net margin versus 8.6% for EZCORP, Inc. — meaning it keeps 45.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MA leads at 59.2% versus 11.7% for EZPW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MA leads at 83.4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is EZPW or MA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) trades at 14.8x forward P/E versus 26.4x for Mastercard Incorporated — 11.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MA: 29.0% to $667.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — EZPW or MA?
In this comparison, MA (0.6% yield) pays a dividend. EZPW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is EZPW or MA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.34), +814.8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EZPW: +814.8%, MA: +515.7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between EZPW and MA?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. MA pays a dividend while EZPW does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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