MA vs FIS

For growth investors, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the stronger pick with 16.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Mastercard Incorporated (MA) offers the better valuation at 30. 1x trailing P/E (25. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Mastercard Incorporated (MA) a "Buy" — based on 64 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.

On trailing P/E, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the cheapest at 30.

1x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 62. 1x. On forward P/E, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. wins at 0. 30x versus Mastercard Incorporated's 1. 21x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) delivered a total return of +38.

1%, compared to -62. 8% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MA returned +436. 1% versus FIS's -12. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

67β versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. 's 0. 76β — meaning FIS is approximately 13% more volatile than MA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 2% for Mastercard Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is pulling ahead at 16.

4% versus 5. 4% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mastercard Incorporated grew EPS 18. 9% year-over-year, compared to -47. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the more profitable company, earning 45.

6% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, 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 16. 5% for FIS. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 30x versus Mastercard Incorporated's 1. 21x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 25. 4x for Mastercard Incorporated — 17. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FIS: 44. 6% to $67. 38.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 0. 6% for Mastercard Incorporated (MA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

67), 0. 6% yield, +436. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MA: +436. 1%, FIS: -12. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (MA (Financial Services) and FIS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MA is a large-cap high-growth stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.