10 Best Financial Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires

2. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Number of Billionaire Investors: 22

American multinational payment technology giant, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), is part of 22 billionaire portfolios, placing it 2nd on our list of the best financial stocks. On January 31, Citi analyst Ashwin Shirvaikar raised MasterCard’s price target to $650 from $584 while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. After strong Q1 results, the stock jumped 3%, beating the broader market. Shirvaikar believes the company is well-positioned for future growth, despite some short-term challenges. While earnings per share may grow at a slower pace this year, he sees the company as a steady long-term winner in digital payments.

On March 17, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) disclosed a partnership with ICBA Payments to enhance card services for 1,400 community banks, introducing contactless payments, digital wallets, and 8-digit BINs. As part of the deal, the company will manage communications and provide joint marketing support while ICBA Payments transitions its programs at no cost.

In Q4 2024, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) reported a net income of $3.3 billion and earnings per share of $3.64. Revenue climbed 14% year-over-year to $7.5 billion, while gross dollar volume grew by 12% and purchase volume by 13%. By the end of 2024, there were 3.5 billion Mastercard and Maestro-branded cards in circulation. In Q4, the company bought back 6.5 million shares for $3.4 billion and paid $606 million in dividends.

On February 10, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) declared a $0.76 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on May 9, to shareholders listed by April 9. The company has consistently shelled out dividends since 2007.