Mastercard is a global force in the payments industry, and its shares have soared in the past couple of decades.

Visa and Mastercard are two of the largest credit card networks, powering over 85% of credit card transactions nationwide. Chances are, you already carry one in your wallet. But what sets them apart?

The company had its initial public offering in May 2006. Since then, it has generated a magnificent total return of 13,690% ...