MasterCard shares could climb above $200-Barron's

NEW YORK, July 26 (Reuters) - MasterCard (MA.N) shares might be a better bargain than Visa Inc (V.N), according to a report in Barron's.

The weekly newspaper said that while Visa bests MasterCard in debit-card transactions and card swipes, MasterCard's shares are less expensive than Visa's and may be a better play on an economic recovery.

MasterCard trades at 15 times its anticipated earnings, but if it begins trading at 16 times earnings, its shares could soar above $200, Barron's said.

MasterCard shares closed Friday at $185.87. Visa ended the week at $67.29.

"Recovery or no, the payment-processing industry's year-over-year comparisons will start looking better in the December quarter," Barron's said. "The underdog MasterCard should have its day." (Reporting by Steve Eder; Editing by Christian Wiessner)