Marqeta, Inc. (MQ) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: MQAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

MQ AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Marqeta, Inc. (MQ) provides an open API cloud platform for modern card issuing and transaction processing. The company generated $677.2M in trailing twelve-month revenue, returning to top-line growth after contractions in FY2023 and FY2024. With $946.0M in net cash and improving free cash flow of $160.8M in FY2025, Marqeta maintains strong liquidity despite compressed GAAP profitability.

Market cap
$1.95B
Revenue (TTM)
$677.2M
P/E
186.9x
fwd 30.5x
1Y return
2.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$20.65
10.5% vs last close

Bull case

  • Gross margin reached 70.0% in FY2025, up significantly from 44.8% in FY2021.
  • The balance sheet is highly liquid, featuring $946.0M in net cash and minimal total debt of $15.4M as of June 30, 2026.
  • Free cash flow generation accelerated to $160.8M in FY2025, up from $55.8M in FY2024.

Bear case

  • Marqeta's trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 186.9x trades at a substantial premium to the US-listed Technology peer median of 28.1x.
  • The stock has declined 79.2% over a 5-year period, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.
  • Operating margins remain slim, sitting at 2.5% over the trailing twelve months compared to the peer median of 13.2%.

What Marqeta does

Marqeta, Inc. operates a cloud-based platform centered on open application programming interfaces (APIs) specializing in card issuing and transaction processing services. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the company caters to developers, technical product managers, and entrepreneurs. Its platform serves disruptive commerce ventures, digital banks, technology companies, and traditional financial institutions. By utilizing Marqeta's APIs, clients can streamline card issuance and manage transaction processing to improve operational efficiency. The company supports approximately 200 customers across the fintech ecosystem.

Growth and profitability

Marqeta's revenue expanded at a 16.6% compound annual growth rate from FY2020 through FY2025. Annual revenue grew to $748.2M in FY2022 before dropping 9.6% in FY2023 and 25.0% to $507.0M in FY2024. In FY2025, revenue rebounded 23.3% to $624.9M, accompanied by gross margin expansion to 70.0%, up from 44.8% in FY2021. Net income reached $27.3M in FY2024 before registering -$13.9M in FY2025. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 17.0% year-over-year, bringing trailing twelve-month revenue to $677.2M with an operating margin of 2.5% and diluted earnings per share of $0.10.

MQ income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Marqeta held $961.4M in cash and short-term investments against $15.4M in total debt, leaving net cash at $946.0M. The company shows a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02 and a current ratio of 1.66 on $715.6M of shareholders' equity. Free cash flow rose to $160.8M in FY2025 from $55.8M in FY2024, supported by operating cash flow of $162.6M and minimal capital expenditures of $1.8M. Marqeta deployed $391.4M toward share buybacks in FY2025, contributing to a 20.9% reduction in share count over 5 years.

MQ balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Marqeta trades at an enterprise value of $994.7M and a market capitalization of $1.95B. Its trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 186.9x, and its forward price-to-earnings ratio is 30.5x, compared to medians of 28.1x and 18.8x for its US-listed Technology peers. The company carries an enterprise value to EBITDA ratio of 47.8x versus the peer median of 16.6x, and a price-to-sales multiple of 2.9x compared to 2.8x for peers. Over the past year, the stock returned 2.2%, lagging the 16.8% return of the S&P 500, while its 5-year return of -79.2% trailed the index's 83.0% gain.

MQ key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 1 Strong Buy, 2 Buys, 10 Holds, and 1 Strong Sell. The mean price target of $20.65 suggests an upside of 10.5% over the last close of $18.69. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $704.0M and earnings per share of $0.27, representing 306.6% earnings per share growth. For the subsequent year, 2 analysts project revenue of $807.5M and earnings per share of $0.50. The company beat earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings announcement set for November 3, 2026.

MQ forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Quarterly revenue growth of 17.0% faces comparison against historical top-line swings, including a 25.0% contraction in FY2024.
  • Trailing net margin stands at 1.5%, showing that overall bottom-line profitability remains thin.
  • Short interest represents 6.0% of the public float, reflecting ongoing market skepticism.
  • Return on assets over the trailing twelve months remains negative at -0.5%.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this MQ AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Marqeta, Inc. (MQ). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: MQ income statement, MQ balance sheet, MQ key metrics, MQ analyst forecast, MQ chart. See the MQ stock overview for the latest quote and news.

MQ AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Marqeta's cash position?

As of June 30, 2026, Marqeta held $961.4M in cash and short-term investments. With only $15.4M in total debt, the company had net cash of $946.0M.

Does Marqeta pay a dividend?

No, Marqeta does not currently pay a dividend. The company directs excess capital toward share repurchases, spending $391.4M on buybacks in FY2025.

What are analysts forecasting for Marqeta in FY2026?

Analysts anticipate revenue of $704.0M and earnings per share of $0.27 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. This EPS estimate reflects a 306.6% year-over-year increase.

How does Marqeta's valuation compare to its sector?

Marqeta trades at a forward P/E of 30.5x and an EV/EBITDA of 47.8x, both higher than the US-listed Technology peer medians of 18.8x and 16.6x, respectively.

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