WallStSmart

CME Group Inc (CME)vsMastercard Inc (MA)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Mastercard Inc generates 403% more annual revenue ($33.94B vs $6.74B). CME leads profitability with a 63.3% profit margin vs 45.9%. MA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.57. MA earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 70/100 (B).

CME

Buy

65

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 6.7Profit: 8.0Value: 4.3Quality: 5.5
Piotroski: 1/9

MA

Strong Buy

70

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 8.0Profit: 10.0Value: 5.0Quality: 6.0
Piotroski: 6/9Altman Z: 4.08

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

CME6 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Profit MarginProfitability
63.3%10/10

Keeps 63 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
69.8%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 69.8%

Market CapQuality
$101.91B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Debt/EquityHealth
0.129/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

EPS GrowthGrowth
21.3%8/10

Earnings expanding 21.3% YoY

Free Cash FlowQuality
$1.24B8/10

Generating 1.2B in free cash flow

MA6 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
Market CapQuality
$442.62B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
232.1%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 232 in profit

Profit MarginProfitability
45.9%10/10

Keeps 46 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
60.8%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 60.8%

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
4.0810/10

Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk

Revenue GrowthGrowth
15.8%8/10

15.8% revenue growth

Areas to Watch

CME2 concerns · Avg: 2.5/10
Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
1/93/10

Weak financial health signals

PEG RatioValuation
4.862/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

MA4 concerns · Avg: 2.8/10
PEG RatioValuation
1.574/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

P/E RatioValuation
29.0x4/10

Moderate valuation

Price/BookValuation
57.3x2/10

Trading at 57.3x book value

Debt/EquityHealth
2.451/10

Elevated debt levels

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : CME

The strongest argument for CME centers on Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 63.3% and operating margin at 69.8%. Revenue growth of 14.4% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : MA

The strongest argument for MA centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 45.9% and operating margin at 60.8%. Revenue growth of 15.8% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : CME

The primary concerns for CME are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.

Bear Case : MA

The primary concerns for MA are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. Debt-to-equity of 2.45 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

CME profiles as a mature stock while MA is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.

MA carries more volatility with a beta of 0.76 — expect wider price swings.

MA is growing revenue faster at 15.8% — sustainability is the question.

MA generates stronger free cash flow (2.8B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

MA scores higher overall (70/100 vs 65/100), backed by strong 45.9% margins and 15.8% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

CME Group Inc

FINANCIAL SERVICES · FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES · USA

CME Group Inc. (Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, New York Mercantile Exchange, The Commodity Exchange) is an American global markets company. It is the world's largest financial derivatives exchange, and trades in asset classes that include agricultural products, currencies, energy, interest rates, metals, stock indexes and cryptocurrencies futures.

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Mastercard Inc

FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA

Mastercard Incorporated is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in the Mastercard International Global Headquarters in Purchase, New York. The Global Operations Headquarters is located in O'Fallon, Missouri, a municipality of St. Charles County, Missouri. Throughout the world, its principal business is to process payments between the banks of merchants and the card-issuing banks or credit unions of the purchasers who use the Mastercard brand debit, credit and prepaid cards to make purchases. Mastercard Worldwide has been a publicly traded company since 2006.

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