Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs MasterCard Inc — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $308.56 (market cap $68.63B), while MasterCard Inc trades at $561.44 (market cap $493.34B). The key difference: MasterCard Inc is far larger — about 7.2× Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.'s market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | MA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $68.63B | $493.34B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $598.96 |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $471.55 |
Enterprise Value | $85.80B | $506.38B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 0.62% |
Volume | — | 4,635,698 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) trades at $303.44, up 1.17% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong analyst support with a consensus price target of $346, though high valuation ratios like a P/E of 30.86 and EV/EBITDA of 50.36 raise concerns. Recent news highlights a major semiconductor supply deal in Taiwan and raised guidance after Q3 2026 results.
The outlook is mixed: positive momentum from contract wins and earnings performance offers upside, but negative net income margins and elevated debt levels pose risks. Investors should weigh growth catalysts against financial leverage and profitability challenges.
Mastercard (MA) trades at $563.17, up 0.04% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages and strong institutional buying interest. The company continues to deliver robust financial performance, with Q2 2026 EPS of $5.04 beating estimates of $4.77, marking the third consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue growth remains strong, rising from $22.2B in 2022 to $32.8B in 2025, while maintaining net income margins above 45%. Recent news highlights Mastercard's expansion into AI-driven payments and initiatives to connect underbanked populations.
The outlook for MA remains positive given its consistent earnings beats, high profitability, and dominant market position. However, investors should monitor competitive threats from emerging payment technologies like stablecoins and regulatory scrutiny. With 79% analyst buy ratings and a consensus price target of $660.85, Wall Street sees approximately 17% upside potential from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →Mastercard Incorporated provides financial transaction processing services. The Company offers payment processing services for credit and debit cards, electronic cash, automated teller machines, and travelers checks. Mastercard serves customers worldwide.
Read more on MA →