-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:
After reviewing Q1 results, we maintain our 12-month target at $690, valuing shares at 30.0x our 2027 EPS estimate of $23.00, a discount to MA's five-year historical average of 34.5x given a rise in geopolitical uncertainty and a regulatory overhang as regulators look to increase competition for U.S. networks. We raise our FY 26 EPS estimate to $20.11 from $19.97 and increase FY 27's to $23.00 from $22.48. After blowout earnings from Visa, we were somewhat disappointed with MA's more muted Q1 results. However, MA continues to demonstrate strong innovation capabilities. Value-added services now represent nearly 40% of total revenue, making the business less sensitive to economic cycles. The company is also positioning itself for emerging opportunities in two key areas: agentic commerce, where it is prepared to capitalize on expected rapid growth, and stablecoins, where its proposed acquisition of BVNK would provide critical technology to send, receive, convert, and hold digital currencies.