Is Mastercard (MA) The Best Non-AI Stock in Jim Cramer’s 2026 Portfolio?

We just covered the Jim Cramer Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stock Picks. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) ranks #8  (see the Jim Cramer’s top 10 stock picks in 2026 here).

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is an interesting Jim Cramer stock pick for 2026. In October, he made the bull case for the payments giant. Here is why he likes the stock:

“They keep putting up steady earnings growth with no credit risk, and their stocks keep chugging along,” Cramer said. “Mastercard’s earnings have risen at a 16.8% compound annual growth rate over the past decade. This one’s slow and steady. I owned it for a long time for the Charitable Trust. I shouldn’t have gotten bored with it. I mean, it’s just such a winner. It’s a great investment. Gotta be patient.”

Ironvine Capital Partners in its Q4 investor letter explained why Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a uniquely durable business. (Click here to read the full text).

A mobile phone with Mastercard app

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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