Here’s Why Macquarie Lowered PT on MasterCard (MA)

​Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the Best Stocks to Buy Before the Next Bull Run . The stock is down more than 10% on a year-to-date basis, but the Street expects more than 34% upside from the current level.

​Recently, on May 1, Macquarie analyst Paul Golding lowered the price target on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) from $675 to $665, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that they still remain optimistic on the stock and that the price target reduction reflects the macroeconomic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. The firm highlighted Mastercard’s FQ1 2026 earnings as encouraging, as it exceeded expectations. Macquarie noted that consumers remain solid, while AI, Crypto, and value-added services are key drivers of growth.

​Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted FQ1 2026 results on April 30. The company posted $8.4 billion in revenue, reflecting 15.83% year-over-year growth and topped the consensus by $142.6 million. Moreover, the GAAP EPS of $4.35 also exceeded the expectations by $0.06.

​Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) operates one of the world’s largest electronic payment networks, connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, governments, and businesses to facilitate digital transactions globally. Headquartered in Purchase, New York, the company’s origins date to the late 1960s, while Mastercard Incorporated was formally established in 1978.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of MA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MA and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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