New York, January 14, 2026, 17:43 EST — trading extended beyond regular hours
- Visa shares climbed roughly 0.4% in after-hours trading, recovering some ground after a sharp drop earlier this week
- Traders are factoring in Washington’s impact on card rates and network routing rules
- Visa highlighted its stablecoin payment pilots and rolled out its economic outlook for 2026
Visa shares gained $1.28, roughly 0.4%, in after-hours trading Wednesday, closing at $329.17. During the regular session, the stock fluctuated between $323.96 and $329.80.
Political headlines rattled the stock, pulling down financials and payment companies in the latest session. Visa dropped 4.5% on Tuesday. One strategist pointed to the swift impact of “headline risks” on the sector. 1
President Donald Trump has pushed for a one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates and backed the Credit Card Competition Act. The bill would force large banks’ cards to support at least two payment networks—only one being Visa or Mastercard. Shares of Visa and Mastercard have both dropped this week as investors assess the potential impact on fees and transaction volume. 2
Visa has also broadened its collaboration with fintech BVNK to test stablecoin payments through Visa Direct, its money-movement platform. Stablecoins are crypto tokens pegged to a stable asset, typically the U.S. dollar. 3
Visa released its 2026 Global Economic Outlook on Tuesday, forecasting 2.7% growth in global GDP for 2026. The report highlights shifts in trade patterns and corporate investment. “What appears to be an ‘average’ year is actually a period of profound economic transformation,” said Visa Chief Economist Wayne Best. 4
Equity traders are focusing less on forecasts and more on whether Washington’s efforts lead to concrete rules affecting transaction routing or credit costs. Visa’s revenue depends heavily on processing fees linked to spending volumes, so a drop in card usage would hit the company fast.
Investors are working to distinguish network operators from lenders. Visa and Mastercard don’t carry consumer credit risk, yet they can still get caught up when policymakers go after the wider card ecosystem.
Another scenario: the policy drive stalls, and stocks resume trading more like growth compounders. Not everyone sees this as the likely outcome, and the route there is key — conflicting messages from Washington could keep volatility on edge.
On the downside, a stronger push for mandatory routing changes or fee cuts could drag on growth forecasts, even if the laws take a while to roll out. Meanwhile, the stablecoin pilots remain in early stages and probably won’t impact earnings anytime soon.
Visa’s next key date is its annual meeting, set for January 27. 5
As Thursday’s session unfolds, traders are eyeing new clues on the rate-cap push and the network-competition bill. Visa’s ability to maintain its stance against rivals like Mastercard will also be under close watch amid ongoing political turbulence.
