10 Best Stocks to Buy Now For the Long Term

4. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

10-Year Sales Growth: 11.55%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 151

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is an international payment technology company. It operates a proprietary network that facilitates electronic payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement processes. On March 6, Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $644.

Faucette noted the company’s strategic expansion in its Value-Added Services (VAS) segment to be one of the key reasons behind his rating. VAS now accounts for approximately 37% of Mastercard Incorporated’s (NYSE:MA) total revenues, reflecting significant growth and a strategic shift beyond traditional payment processing. The analyst highlighted that despite this growth, the company’s penetration in the total addressable market remains low, indicating substantial room for further expansion.

Moreover, the company has made several strategic acquisitions including Brighterion, Recorded Future, Ekata, and RiskRecon, which has bolstered its capabilities in AI, threat intelligence, digital identity verification, and cybersecurity. Management is focused on integrating these services across the transaction lifecycle and has positioned it well for future growth by enhancing the security and efficiency of transactions. It is one of the best stocks to buy now for long term.