MQ
TechnologyMarqeta, Inc. · Software - Infrastructure · $2B
What is Marqeta, Inc.?
Marqeta, Inc. is a cloud-based card issuing and transaction processing platform built for developers and fintech innovators. Headquartered in Oakland, California, it serves commerce disruptors, digital banks, and financial institutions.
Marqeta provides an open API platform that lets businesses issue payment cards and process transactions programmatically. Customers range from fintech startups to large tech companies and traditional financial institutions. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction processing fees tied to card usage volume across its customer base.
Marqeta was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Oakland, California.
- Cloud-based card issuing platform
- Open API transaction processing
- Fintech and digital banking infrastructure
- Developer-focused payment tools
Is MQ a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates MQ as Below Average overall.
Valuation is the standout pillar for Marqeta, rated Good — suggesting the market may already be pricing in the company's current challenges. Growth sits at a Neutral rating, reflecting a business still working to scale its platform.
Quality, Moat, and Risk all carry Weak ratings, pointing to meaningful structural and competitive vulnerabilities that weigh on the overall score.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does MQ pay dividends?
No — Marqeta, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
Marqeta does not pay a dividend. As a growth-stage technology company, it reinvests available resources into platform development and customer acquisition rather than returning cash to shareholders through distributions.
When does MQ report earnings?
Marqeta reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
The company's results reflect the dynamics of a platform-based fintech scaling through transaction volume growth while managing operating costs. Performance across recent periods has been mixed relative to sector peers.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Marqeta's investor relations page directly.
MQ Price History
-84.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Marqeta, Inc.?
Based on Marqeta, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Marqeta do?
Marqeta operates a cloud-based open API platform for card issuing and transaction processing. It serves developers, digital banks, commerce disruptors, and financial institutions, enabling them to build and launch payment card programs programmatically.
Does MQ pay dividends?
No, Marqeta does not currently pay a dividend. The company is focused on reinvesting in its platform and expanding its customer base rather than distributing cash to shareholders.
When does MQ report earnings?
Marqeta reports on a standard quarterly schedule. For confirmed dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of Marqeta's official website.
Is MQ a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates MQ as Below Average, with Weak readings across Quality, Moat, and Risk pillars. Valuation is rated Good, which may interest certain investors, but structural concerns remain. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is MQ overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, MQ is rated Good — suggesting the current price may reflect existing headwinds. View the complete valuation analysis by signing up for a Pro account.
What is MQ's market cap bracket?
Marqeta is classified as a small-cap stock, placing it in a tier that typically carries higher volatility and liquidity risk compared to large- or mega-cap peers in the technology sector.
Is MQ a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, MQ's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality, Moat, and Risk ratings — suggests meaningful hurdles remain. Investors focused on durable business quality may want to review the full Pro analysis before deciding.
What sector does MQ belong to?
Marqeta operates in the Technology sector, specifically within financial technology infrastructure. It competes in the card issuing and payment processing space alongside other fintech platform providers.
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Pro Analysis
MQ — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 38.0 | 12.8 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 69.6 | 58.1 | -0.5 |
| May 17, 2026 | 38.5 | 13.3 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 69.6 | 60.9 | +0.3 |
| May 14, 2026 | 38.2 | 13.1 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 69.6 | 58.6 | +0.3 |
| May 12, 2026 | 37.9 | 12.6 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 69.6 | 58.0 | +7.7 |
| May 10, 2026 | 30.2 | 0.0 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 36.9 | 59.9 | +0.4 |
| May 9, 2026 | 29.8 | 30.3 | 26.0 | 0.0 | 46.2 | 58.9 | -0.2 |
| May 8, 2026 | 30.0 | 0.0 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 36.9 | 59.0 | -4.3 |
| May 7, 2026 | 34.3 | 11.7 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 34.4 | 70.2 | +0.2 |
| May 3, 2026 | 34.1 | 11.7 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 34.4 | 69.5 | -0.1 |
| May 1, 2026 | 34.2 | 11.7 | 26.0 | 45.7 | 34.4 | 69.5 | +0.1 |
MQ — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 12.8/100 (25%)Marqeta, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 45.7/100 (20%)Marqeta, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 69.6/100 (15%)Marqeta, Inc. maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 58.3/100 (15%)Marqeta, Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 26/100 (25%)Marqeta, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for MQ.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the MQ UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Marqeta, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Marqeta, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Marqeta, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.