WEX
WEX Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$5.00B
5Y Perf.-2.6%
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Stock Comparison
WEX vs MA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$443.44B
5Y Perf.+66.5%
WEX vs MA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WEX | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $5.00B | $443.44B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.70B | $32.79B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $310M | $15.57B |
| Gross Margin | 57.4% | 83.4% |
| Operating Margin | 24.7% | 59.2% |
| Forward P/E | 7.4x | 25.5x |
| Total Debt | $4.86B | $19.00B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $906M | $10.57B |
WEX vs MA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WEX
MA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEX Inc. (WEX) | 100 | 97.4 | -2.6% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 100 | 166.5 | +66.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WEX vs MA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MA leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. WEX Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
WEX
WEX Inc.
The Value Play
WEX is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (7.4x vs 25.5x)
- +19.0% vs MA's -11.0%
Best for: value and momentum
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
The Banking Pick
MA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 14 yrs, beta 0.67, yield 0.6%
- Rev growth 16.4%, EPS growth 18.9%
- 437.2% 10Y total return vs WEX's 60.9%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MA | 16.4% NII/revenue growth vs WEX's 1.2% |
| Value | WEX | Lower P/E (7.4x vs 25.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | MA | 45.6% margin vs WEX's 11.5% |
| Stability / Safety | MA | Beta 0.67 vs WEX's 1.16, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MA | 0.6% yield; 14-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | WEX | +19.0% vs MA's -11.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MA | 29.5% ROA vs WEX's 2.1%, ROIC 56.5% vs 9.6% |
WEX vs MA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
WEX vs MA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMALAGGINGWEX
WEXWEX Inc.
1leads
MAMastercard Incorporat…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WEXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MA4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
WEX6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MA7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MA4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
MA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
MA1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MA leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MA is the larger business by revenue, generating $32.8B annually — 12.2x WEX's $2.7B. MA is the more profitable business, keeping 45.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WEX's 11.5%.
| Metric | WEXWEX Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.7B | $32.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $952M | $21.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $310M | $15.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $460M | $17.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +57.4% | +83.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.7% | +59.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +45.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.0% | +51.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.7% | +21.2% |
MA leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
WEX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 17.0x trailing earnings, WEX trades at a 44% valuation discount to MA's 30.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WEX's 8.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MA's 22.0x.
| Metric | WEXWEX Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.0B | $443.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $9.0B | $451.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.03x | 30.32x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.43x | 25.55x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.44x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.89x | 22.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.88x | 13.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.20x | 58.07x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.94x | 26.22x |
WEX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MA leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MA delivers a 2.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $27 for WEX. MA carries lower financial leverage with a 2.45x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WEX's 3.94x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MA scores 9/9 vs WEX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | WEXWEX Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +27.0% | +2.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.1% | +29.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.6% | +56.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.4% | +64.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.94x | 2.45x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.0B | $8.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $906M | $10.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.9B | $19.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.76x | 27.23x |
MA leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MA five years ago would be worth $13,678 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,345 for WEX. Over the past 12 months, WEX leads with a +19.0% total return vs MA's -11.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MA at 9.7% vs WEX's -6.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WEXWEX Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.8% | -10.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +19.0% | -11.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.2% | +32.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -26.5% | +36.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.9% | +437.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -6.5% | +9.7% |
MA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MA is the less volatile stock with a 0.67 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WEX's 1.16 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MA currently trades 83.2% from its 52-week high vs WEX's 77.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WEXWEX Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.16x | 0.67x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $186.85 | $601.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $120.03 | $480.50 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.2% | +83.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.0 | 42.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 518K | 3.2M |
MA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
MA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WEX as "Hold" and MA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.1% upside for MA (target: $657) vs 23.2% for WEX (target: $178). MA is the only dividend payer here at 0.61% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | WEXWEX Inc. | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $177.67 | $656.87 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 32 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +16.0% | +2.6% |
MA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
MA leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). WEX leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallMastercard Incorporated (MA)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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WEX vs MA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WEX or MA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the stronger pick with 16.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 2% for WEX Inc. (WEX). WEX Inc. (WEX) offers the better valuation at 17. 0x trailing P/E (7. 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.
02Which has the better valuation — WEX or MA?
On trailing P/E, WEX Inc.
(WEX) is the cheapest at 17. 0x versus Mastercard Incorporated at 30. 3x. On forward P/E, WEX Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WEX or MA?
Over the past 5 years, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) delivered a total return of +36.
8%, compared to -26. 5% for WEX Inc. (WEX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MA returned +437. 2% versus WEX's +60. 9%. 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 — WEX or MA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
67β versus WEX Inc. 's 1. 16β — meaning WEX is approximately 74% more volatile than MA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for WEX Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WEX or MA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is pulling ahead at 16.
4% versus 1. 2% for WEX Inc. (WEX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mastercard Incorporated grew EPS 18. 9% year-over-year, compared to 12. 9% for WEX 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.
06Which has better profit margins — WEX or MA?
Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the more profitable company, earning 45.
6% net margin versus 11. 4% for WEX 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 25. 4% for WEX. 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.
07Is WEX or MA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, WEX Inc.
(WEX) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 25. 5x for Mastercard Incorporated — 18. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MA: 31. 1% to $656. 87.
08Which pays a better dividend — WEX or MA?
In this comparison, MA (0.
6% yield) pays a dividend. WEX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is WEX or MA better for a retirement portfolio?
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, +437. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MA: +437. 2%, WEX: +60. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between WEX and MA?
These companies operate in different sectors (WEX (Technology) and MA (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: WEX is a small-cap deep-value stock; MA is a large-cap high-growth stock. MA pays a dividend while WEX 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(WEX: 5.8% · MA: 16.4%)Net Margin>
%
(WEX: 11.5% · MA: 45.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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