Payment networks are one of the most fundamental parts of today's financial infrastructure. It is also what makes them some of the most profitable businesses in the world. To be more specific, Mastercard reported a truly impressive adjusted operating margin of 60.8% in Q1-26. You could cut that figure in half, and it would still be amazingly profitable. Using today's closing price of $495.04, the company's stock price is down by ~18% from its all-time high of $601.77 reached in August 2025.