New York, January 29, 2026, 11:44 (EST) — Regular session.
- Visa shares climbed roughly 0.9% to $329.82 in late morning trading, following a $326.98 close on Wednesday
- Mastercard topped estimates and revealed plans for job cuts, boosting confidence in payments stocks
- Visa will release its fiscal Q1 earnings after the market closes, followed by a call at 5 p.m. EST.
Shares of Visa Inc ticked higher Thursday while the broader U.S. market slipped, as investors geared up for the payments giant’s quarterly earnings out after the bell. By 11:41 a.m. EST, Visa stock was trading around $329.82, up roughly 0.9% from Wednesday’s close at $326.98. (Google)
This matters now because Visa’s update is one of the next key indicators for card spending and cross-border activity this earnings season. For payment networks, investors usually react more to guidance and volume trends than to the just-completed quarter’s results.
Investors reacted to peer signals, with Mastercard’s Thursday morning results highlighting just how strong spending remains, particularly in travel-related sectors.
Mastercard topped fourth-quarter profit estimates and announced plans to cut about 4% of its workforce, citing a roughly $200 million charge this quarter. Gross dollar volume climbed 7%, with cross-border volume surging 14%. CEO Michael Miebach said the company’s strategic review will lead to “reductions in some areas and roles” while shifting focus elsewhere. Mastercard shares gained over 1.7% in early trading. Visa and American Express are set to report next. (Reuters)
A new brokerage note helped push Visa higher. Rothschild Redburn raised its rating on Visa from “neutral” to “buy” and boosted the price target to $385 from $327. The firm highlighted how a more fragmented e-commerce landscape could swing pricing power back to card networks. It also cited faster growth in value-added services like fraud tools and data products. Plus, Rothschild Redburn flagged “agentic commerce” — where software agents make purchases for consumers — as a potential long-term driver for demand in risk and security solutions. (Investing)
Visa filed an 8-K following its annual meeting, announcing that shareholders approved amendments to restrict some officer liabilities under Delaware law. The updated documents took effect upon filing in Delaware on Jan. 28. (SEC)
All eyes are on earnings and guidance. Visa will report its fiscal first-quarter numbers after the closing bell, followed by an earnings call at 5 p.m. EST. (Visa)
Investors are watching for updates on payment volume, processed transactions, and cross-border volume—a crucial indicator of travel and international e-commerce. They’ll also focus on any remarks about pricing and expenses, especially as the company ramps up spending on fraud prevention and related services.
Policy noise lingers. Advisers at this week’s airline finance conference flagged a proposed 10% cap on credit-card interest rates, warning it could upend rewards economics. BK Associates managing director Pooja Gardemal called it “a huge chunk of profit that has just disappeared,” while Barclays’ Michael Miller dismissed it as “an unlikely outcome” to hold. (Reuters)
Visa doesn’t control consumer interest rates, but pressure on issuing banks’ profits might curb the marketing and rewards that boost card usage. A weaker outlook, or any sign that cross-border growth is faltering, would likely weigh on the shares.
Visa’s shares have fluctuated between $323.51 and $331.53 on Thursday. The focus now shifts to the company’s earnings report, due after market close, followed by the 5 p.m. management call.
