NEW YORK, Feb 6, 2026, 12:37 EST — Regular session
- Mastercard shares dipped close to 2% by midday, underperforming the wider market’s gains.
- A recent SEC filing revealed increased base salaries and bonus targets for two senior executives, starting March 1.
- New partnerships in travel payments, remittances, and cybersecurity stood out in this week’s headlines.
Mastercard shares dropped roughly 2% to $540.88 on Friday, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF gained around 1.5%. Visa edged down about 0.4%, and American Express pushed up approximately 1.6%.
The underperformance is significant since payments stocks tend to act as a quick gauge of consumer spending. Mastercard also collects fees from cross-border transactions — purchases made outside the cardholder’s home country — making travel and high-value spending key indicators for traders.
This week, the company grabbed headlines with a blend of governance moves and product updates. These developments won’t impact next quarter’s results right away, yet they fuel ongoing debates about growth sources as card networks push to expand services beyond just processing.
Mastercard revealed in a Form 8-K on Thursday that its board committee approved raises to base salaries and bonus targets for CFO Sachin Mehra and Chief Services Officer Craig Vosburg, effective March 1. Mehra’s base pay will climb to $875,000, up from $825,000, while his target annual bonus jumps to 175% of salary from 150%, according to the filing. Vosburg’s base salary moves up to $825,000 from $800,000, with his target bonus rising to 150% from 135%. 1
Mastercard also announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding — a non-binding pact — with the UAE Cyber Security Council to back cybersecurity policy efforts and produce a joint report on the UAE’s threat landscape. Since 2018, the company said it has poured $10.7 billion into cybersecurity acquisitions and solutions. Its AI tools have blocked $70 billion in fraudulent transactions over the last ten years. Jon M. Huntsman Jr., Mastercard’s vice chairman and president for strategic growth, called the agreement a move that “reinforces our position as a trusted partner” to the UAE. 2
Mastercard announced a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, unveiling plans to launch co-branded credit and prepaid cards for Saudi residents by late 2026. The deal also includes a virtual card program branded by the airline, designed for B2B transactions with travel agents and intermediaries. Alongside this, the two firms will set up a joint center of excellence focused on creating new payment solutions. Riyadh Air CFO Adam Boukadida said the collaboration will help craft a travel experience that’s “seamless, digital and distinctly differentiated.” 3
Mastercard announced that Zimbabwe’s People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB) is rolling out an outbound remittance service powered by Mastercard Move. The new offering allows customers to send money to 21 countries, including key markets like the U.S., UK, and South Africa. POSB CEO Garainashe Changunda described the product as a reflection of their “strategic collaboration with Mastercard” aimed at boosting financial connectivity. According to Mastercard, Move operates across 200 countries and territories and handles transactions in over 150 currencies. 4
Just a week after Mastercard posted its fourth-quarter profits, the company announced plans to trim roughly 4% of its global staff. Executives also highlighted an anticipated $200 million restructuring cost hitting this quarter. 5
Still, the catch is clear: partnerships and policy efforts often take a while to translate into revenue. Plus, travel-driven cross-border volumes can drop fast if consumers tighten their belts. Investors have been quick to slam pricey, high-multiple stocks whenever markets get shaky — even when the overall tape is up.
Next week, the focus shifts to U.S. data releases. The Bureau of Labor Statistics now plans to publish the January employment report on Feb. 11 and the January CPI figures on Feb. 13, following a disruption in government services that pushed back the original dates. 6
