Marqeta Inc(MQ)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 2 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+3.84% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$18.11
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MQ

10/09/2026: MQ (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Marqeta is a fintech company specializing in modern, API-driven card issuing and payment processing. Its primary strength lies in its flexible, cloud-native platform that enables businesses to manage complex payment programs with real-time controls. The company's growth story is currently centered on expanding into new services, such as credit-as-a-service, and scaling its enterprise footprint globally. However, investors must consider risks including heavy reliance on major customers, intense competition from incumbents, and the company's ongoing path to profitability. This stock is generally suited for growth-oriented investors with a high risk tolerance who are looking for exposure to the long-term shift toward embedded finance and digital payments.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitMarqeta provides high-growth exposure to the embedded finance trend.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum is highly dependent on technical chart signals and quarterly TPV growth trends.
Value investorWeak fitThe company is still in a high-growth phase and lacks consistent earnings.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend and focuses on capital reinvestment.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe stock exhibits high price volatility and sensitivity to market sentiment.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock's beta relative to the market is high, leading to significant price swings.
Valuation riskMedium / highHigh growth expectations are priced into the stock, leaving little room for error.
Competition risk (Fintech rivals)HighStiff competition from private and public fintechs could compress take rates.
Business qualityMediumThe business model is highly scalable but dependent on third-party network relationships.
Dividend incomeLow / noneInvestors should expect no income generation from this holding.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on integrating new products like credit card issuing effectively.

Price Behavior

Flat / Range-Bound
PRICE PATH

Flat / Range-Bound

The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -63.46%
Avg. Invested days 19
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 1.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MQ receives a 3-star rating based on the available scored pillars. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MQ has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 25.7%) and solid revenue growth (+23.3%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-151.0%), weak profitability (net margin -2.2%), modest insider ownership of 3.34%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MQ's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 31.9%). Profitability is weak (1 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is MQ's strongest growth driver at +188.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+23.3%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (-151.0%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 57.1% and approximately 92.6% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 3.34% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 10.92%
BlackRock Inc 6.59%
T. Rowe Price Investment Management,Inc. 6.10%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.22%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.00%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MQ generates approximately $112 of gross profit, $-47 of operating income, and $257 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins and weak cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is strong.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -4.47% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MQ has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.83B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 174.4
1Y Target Price 20.5
Price to earnings Ratio 174.4
1Y Target Price 20.5
Volume (30-day avg) 893.2K shares
Beta 1.21
52 Weeks Range 14.80 - 22.28
Updated Date 10/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 14.80 - 22.28
Updated Date 10/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.1

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Processing RevenueFees earned from transaction processing and authorization services.The company makes money every time a card is used on its platform.
GeographyNorth American markets dominate, with expanding presence in Europe and APAC.Most revenue is still driven by US-based payment volumes.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 174.4
Forward PE 30.49
Enterprise Value 994.70M
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.71
Enterprise Value 994.70M
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.71
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.47
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 47.83
Shares Outstanding 97.00M
Shares Floating 89.81M
Shares Outstanding 97.00M
Shares Floating 89.81M
Percent Insiders 3.34
Percent Institutions 57.06

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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