Freedom Capital Sees Strong Results at Mastercard (MA), Maintains Hold View

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is included among the 13 Best January Dividend Stocks to Invest in.

On December 25, Freedom Capital analyst Mikhail Paramonov raised the firm’s price target on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to $655 from $635 and kept a Hold rating on the shares. The change followed what the firm described as “strong” Q4 results. In a research note, Paramonov said Mastercard continues to deliver faster growth than Visa (V), even though it operates at a smaller scale.

One clear tailwind remains the steady expansion of e-commerce. Online purchases rely heavily on digital payment options such as credit and debit cards. That shift continues to benefit Mastercard, as both merchants and consumers lean into the convenience and cost efficiencies of online transactions. The trend shows little sign of slowing.

Early data from Mastercard SpendingPulse™ points to healthy consumer activity during the holiday period. US retail sales excluding autos rose 3.9% year over year between November 1 and December 21. The data captures both in-store and online spending across all payment types and is not adjusted for inflation. Shoppers were not just chasing discounts. Many moved fluidly between online browsing and physical stores to find better deals and save time. E-commerce sales jumped 7.4% during the period, while in-store sales increased 2.9%. The numbers highlight how blended shopping has become the norm.

Mastercard SpendingPulse tracks national retail sales using aggregated and anonymized data, reflecting all forms of payment across select global markets.

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a technology company in the global payments space. It connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and governments through its payments network.

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Disclosure: None.