Mastercard Inc. (MA) Quarterly Valuation – March 2014
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company.  By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a specific look at how Mastercard fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): MasterCard Incorporated is a technology company in the global payments industry. The Company connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing and settlement, and deliver related products and services. The Company’s family of brands includes MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus. It also provides offerings, such as loyalty and reward programs, information services and consulting. It provides transaction processing and a range of payment-related products and services to enable the design, packaging and implementation of its products and programs.
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 2/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years – FAIL
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – FAIL
- Earnings Growth – earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3 over the last 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end of period – PASS
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 – FAIL
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 – FAIL
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 5/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 – PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – PASS
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend – PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago – PASS
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $78.31 |
| MG Value | $76.92 |
| MG Opinion | Fairly Valued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $28.97 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $16.98 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 15.35% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | $3.51 |
| PEmg | 39.19 |
| Current Ratio | 1.82 |
| PB Ratio | 12.50 |
Balance Sheet – 12/31/2013
| Current Assets | $10,950,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $6,032,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $0 |
| Total Assets | $14,242,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $1,794,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $6,758,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 1,194,190,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2013 | $2.56 |
| 2012 | $2.19 |
| 2011 | $1.49 |
| 2010 | $1.41 |
| 2009 | $1.12 |
| 2008 | -$0.20 |
| 2007 | $0.80 |
| 2006 | $0.04 |
| 2005 | $0.27 |
| 2004 | $0.24 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2013 | $2.00 |
| 2012 | $1.55 |
| 2011 | $1.12 |
| 2010 | $0.84 |
| 2009 | $0.50 |
| 2008 | $0.21 |
Dividend History
MA Dividend data by YCharts
Conclusion:
Mastercard Inc. is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the Defensive Investor. Â In fact, the only requirements of the Defensive Investor that the company satisfies are the market cap level and the earnings growth over the ten year period. Â That said, the company passes all of the requirements of the Enterprising Investor, and that investor type should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company and its competitors through a review of ModernGraham’s valuation of Visa (V) and 5 Low PEmg Companies for the Defensive Investor. Â From a valuation perspective, the company appears to be fairly valued. Â The company has shown strong growth, having brought EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.50 in 2009 to $2.00 for 2013. Â This demonstrated level of growth supports the market’s implied estimate of 15.35% earnings growth and leads the ModernGraham valuation model to return an estimate of intrinsic value that falls within a margin of safety in relation to the price.
The next part of the analysis is up to individual investors, and requires discussion of the company’s prospects.  What do you think?  What value would you put on Mastercard Inc. (MA)?  Where do you see the company going in the future?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
If you like our valuations, why not check out ModernGraham Stocks & Screens?  It’s a great way to review the valuations while screening for things like low PE ratio, undervalued companies, etc.!
Disclaimer: Â The author did not hold a position in Mastercard Inc. (MA) or any of the other companies listed in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.
Logo taken from the Wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
