Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

Broadcom Inc. is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies and has also built a significant presence in infrastructure software. Its chip business is mainly focused on computing and networking, with custom AI accelerators now representing the majority of operations. Broadcom primarily operates as a fabless chip designer, though it retains some in-house manufacturing, including its leading film bulk acoustic resonator filters used in Apple iPhones. On the software side, the company provides virtualization, infrastructure, and security solutions to large enterprises, financial institutions, and government customers. Broadcom has grown through consolidation, combining businesses from legacy Broadcom and Avago Technologies in semiconductors, along with VMware, Brocade, CA Technologies, and Symantec in software.

Mastercard Incorporated is the world’s second-largest payment processor, handling nearly $11 trillion in payment volume during 2025. The company operates in more than 200 countries and territories and processes transactions in over 150 currencies worldwide.