Mastercard (XSWX:MA) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 2.20% (As of Mar. 2026) — 29% Above Median

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Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
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Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

XSWX:MA Mastercard Inc XSWX:MA
94 GF Score
Price CHF441.80
GF Value CHF533.96
! 2 Warning Signs
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What is Mastercard 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio?

Mastercard XSWX:MA +0.48% 94 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.20 as of Mar. 2026, which is 29% above its 10-year median of 1.70. GuruFocus rates XSWX:MA with a GF Score™ of 94/100 and a GF Value™ of CHF533.96. The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 280 Credit Services companies, Mastercard ranks better than 90.36% on this metric.

Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.

3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. Mastercard's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 2.20%.

The historical rank and industry rank for Mastercard's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:

XSWX:MA' s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 0   Med: 1.7   Max: 4.3
Current: 2.2

During the past 13 years, Mastercard's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 4.30%. The lowest was 0.00%. And the median was 1.70%.

XSWX:MA's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked better than
90.36% of 280 companies
in the Credit Services industry
Industry Median: -3.1 vs XSWX:MA: 2.20

Mastercard (XSWX:MA) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation

A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.


Be Aware

Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.


Mastercard 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms


XSWX:MA vs V, AXP, COF: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison

For the Credit Services subindustry, Mastercard's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Mastercard 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Credit Services Industry

For the Credit Services industry and Financial Services sector, Mastercard's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Mastercard's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.


XSWX:MA
94GF Score
Mastercard Inc XSWX:MA
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Mastercard 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation

This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).

Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.

What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.20 mean?
Mastercard (XSWX:MA) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.20 as of Mar. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Mastercard and its competitors. This is 29% above median its historical median of 1.70. According to the industry distribution chart, Mastercard ranks #27 out of 280 companies in the Credit Services industry, placing it in the top 9.6%.
Is Mastercard's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
Mastercard's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.20 is 29% above median its 10-year median of 1.70. Based on the distribution chart, Mastercard ranks #27 out of 280 companies in the Credit Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Mastercard has a GF Score™ of 94/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Mastercard's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to V and AXP?
According to the Credit Services industry distribution chart, Mastercard ranks #27 out of 280 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This places Mastercard in the top 10% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for a Credit Services company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Credit Services industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Mastercard and its competitors. Mastercard's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.20, which is 29% above median its own 10-year median of 1.70. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Mastercard stock overvalued right now?
Mastercard (XSWX:MA) has a current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 2.20. The stock's GF Value™ is CHF533.96, compared to a current price of CHF441.80 — trading 17.3% below its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.20, which is 29% above median its 10-year median of 1.70. Mastercard's overall GF Score™ is 94/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Mastercard (XSWX:MA), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 2.20 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Mastercard (XSWX:MA) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Mastercard stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of CHF441.80 is trading 17.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of CHF533.96.

Key valuation signals for XSWX:MA:

  • 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 2.20 (29% above median its 10-year median of 1.70)
  • GF Value™: CHF533.96 vs. price of CHF441.80 (17.3% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 94/100 with 2 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the XSWX:MA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Mastercard Business Description

Address 2000 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY, USA, 10577
Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to $11 trillion in volume during 2025. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.
94GF Score

Get the complete analysis for XSWX:MA

3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

CHF441.80
Price
CHF533.96
GF Value