New York, January 26, 2026, 11:33 (EST) — Regular session
- Mastercard shares showed little movement in late-morning trading, following a volatile January.
- Wall Street is focused on Thursday’s results for clues on card spending and travel trends.
- Analysts are zeroing in on volumes and transaction counts, not merely the headline EPS and revenue figures.
Mastercard (NYSE:MA) shares closed near $524.76 Monday, after trading between $523.37 and $530.00 during the session. Visa stayed flat while American Express slipped, leaving no standout performer in the payments sector.
The stock is holding steady as Mastercard’s quarterly results approach later this week. These reports are among the sector’s key upcoming events. Investors often look to payment networks to gauge consumer spending, particularly in cross-border travel.
This week is packed: a U.S. rate decision, major tech earnings, and new corporate reports that could reshape growth expectations. For Mastercard, the focus isn’t just on this quarter’s results but on its outlook for demand in 2026.
U.S. stocks climbed Monday as traders braced for earnings reports and the upcoming Federal Reserve policy decision. The Dow added roughly 0.5%, while the S&P 500 edged up around 0.4% in late morning trading, Reuters reported. 1
Mastercard plans to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings on Thursday, followed by a conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern, the company announced. 2
Analysts are forecasting Mastercard to post earnings of $4.20 per share on $8.74 billion in revenue, according to a Zacks report on Nasdaq.com. The preview also estimates “switched transactions”—the count of transactions processed through Mastercard’s network—at 46.18 billion, with global purchase volume hitting roughly $2.34 trillion. 3
Traders will zero in on any shifts in cross-border spending, since those transactions usually bring in higher fees. They’ll also watch for updates on costs tied to the company’s investments in services and security. Operating expense guidance and buyback plans can be just as crucial as revenue figures, particularly with the stock already valued for consistent growth.
On Monday, Mastercard’s Economics Institute released new macro commentary focusing on global consumer trends that investors often link to card spending. “The economic outlook for Kenya in 2026 is broadly constructive,” said Khatija Haque, chief economist for EEMEA at the Mastercard Economics Institute. The report highlights digital adoption and rising consumer demand as key growth drivers, based on aggregated and anonymized sales data. 4
Payments companies won’t be reporting in isolation. A handful of major U.S. firms are set to release earnings this week, giving investors fresh data points on discretionary spending and travel trends. 5
The downside is clearer as well. Should Mastercard’s volumes come up short or its guidance grow cautious—especially on cross-border transactions—the shares could falter, despite a decent quarter. A fresh spike in market volatility tied to rates would only add pressure.
On Wednesday, the Fed will release its policy statement and hold a press conference. Then on Thursday, Mastercard reports earnings and hosts a 9 a.m. call. 6
