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ICE vs MA

ICE
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
BULLISH
Price
$152.07
Market Cap
$87.07B
Sector
Financial Services
AI Confidence
88%
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
NEUTRAL
Price
$499.66
Market Cap
$445.92B
Sector
Financial Services
AI Confidence
80%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
ICE
27.7
MA
30.28
Forward P/E
ICE
22.56
MA
22.05
P/B Ratio
ICE
3.03
MA
57.74
P/S Ratio
ICE
8.93
MA
13.6
EV/EBITDA
ICE
17.37
MA
22.13

Profitability

Gross Margin
ICE
100.0%
MA
100.0%
Operating Margin
ICE
49.07%
MA
57.73%
Profit Margin
ICE
32.43%
MA
45.65%
ROE
ICE
11.49%
MA
209.91%
ROA
ICE
2.19%
MA
23.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth
ICE
2.6%
MA
17.6%
Earnings Growth
ICE
24.6%
MA
24.2%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
ICE
0.68
MA
2.56
Current Ratio
ICE
1.01
MA
1.03
Quick Ratio
ICE
0.03
MA
0.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield
ICE
1.26%
MA
0.7%
Payout Ratio
ICE
34.43%
MA
18.4%

AI Verdict

ICE BULLISH

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) presents a compelling investment case supported by strong profitability, consistent earnings growth, and favorable valuation relative to peers despite near-term price underperformance. The company has delivered 23 out of 25 earnings beats over the past six years, with accelerating YoY EPS growth of 10.3% and a robust 24.6% year-over-year earnings increase. While insider selling raises a cautionary note, the stock trades at a forward P/E of 22.56—below its historical average and at a discount to sector leaders—amid improving momentum and a $192.44 analyst target implying 26.5% upside. ICE’s dominant margin profile, disciplined capital allocation, and exposure to structural trends in data and markets position it well for sustained outperformance.

Strengths
Exceptional operating margin of 49.07%, among the highest in the Financial Services sector, reflecting pricing power and cost discipline
Gross margin of 100.00%, indicative of a highly scalable, asset-light business model in data and exchange services
Earnings growth accelerating with 24.6% YoY and 24.2% Q/Q growth, outpacing sector average revenue growth of 24.18%
Risks
Insider selling activity: $46.32M in sales over the last 6 months with zero buys, suggesting lack of confidence among executives
High current valuation on trailing P/E of 27.70, above sector average P/E of 20.60, creating multiple expansion risk
Weak liquidity profile: current ratio of 1.01 and extremely low quick ratio of 0.03 indicate potential near-term cash conversion pressure
MA NEUTRAL

MA shows neutral fundamentals based on deterministic rules. Financial strength is strong (F-Score 6/9). Mixed signals with both opportunities and risks present.

Strengths
Strong profitability (45.6% margin)
Strong revenue growth of 17.6%
Strong ROE of 209.9%
Risks
High valuation with P/E of 30.3
Premium vs Graham Number ($56.68)
High debt burden with D/E of 2.56

Compare Another Pair

ICE vs MA: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) and Mastercard Incorporated (MA) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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