New York, January 30, 2026, 19:51 EST — After-hours
- Mastercard shares dipped roughly 0.9% in after-hours trading Friday.
- The company surpassed fourth-quarter estimates and announced plans to reduce its global workforce by roughly 4%.
- Management expects net revenue growth in 2026 to land near the upper range of low double digits.
Mastercard shares slipped roughly 0.9% to $538.79 in after-hours trading Friday, following a volatile week that saw U.S. stocks close lower.
Mastercard topped fourth-quarter estimates on Thursday and announced plans to slash about 4% of its global workforce, potentially impacting over 1,400 employees. The company also warned of a roughly $200 million restructuring charge in the current quarter.
Wall Street slipped on Friday after President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair. Adding to the pressure, producer prices in December climbed more than anticipated.
Mastercard reported a 22% jump in fourth-quarter net income to $4.1 billion, with net revenue up 18% to $8.8 billion, according to an SEC filing. Adjusted earnings per share hit $4.76. CEO Michael Miebach highlighted “healthy consumer and business spending.” The company also saw a 14% rise in cross-border volume, with gross dollar volume — the total value of purchases on its network — hitting $2.8 trillion. Mastercard bought back 6.4 million shares for $3.6 billion and handed out $684 million in dividends. SEC
Cross-border transactions draw close investor attention since they usually involve higher fees and align with travel activity. A dip in these transactions often hits network revenue quickly, even when domestic card usage remains stable.
Mastercard’s earnings slide deck projects 2026 net revenue growth hitting the upper range of low double digits, while operating expenses on a GAAP basis are expected to rise near the top of high single digits. The company also forecasted first-quarter net revenue growth in the low teens, reiterating a roughly $200 million restructuring charge for the quarter.
Chief financial officer Sachin Mehra revealed the company wrapped up a business review impacting roughly 4% of its full-time staff. “Following the recent strategic review, we anticipate a one-time restructuring charge of about $200 million in Q1,” Mehra told analysts. Reuters
Peers showed mixed results. Visa reported an 8% rise in payment volumes on a constant-dollar basis for the latest quarter, with cross-border volumes up 12%. That pace lagged Mastercard’s 14% growth. “Visa tends to guide conservatively,” Seaport Research Partners noted in a report. Reuters
Risk remains a concern. American Express flagged investor worries over Trump’s plan to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year. CFO Christophe Le Caillec said he doubts the cap will ease affordability issues. Any move that curbs lending or hits travel and discretionary spending could squeeze payment volumes, hitting Mastercard as it still deals with restructuring expenses.
Monday brings the market reopening alongside a packed U.S. data slate. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will drop its January employment report Feb. 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET. This report is crucial for gauging jobs and spending trends, which could impact card volumes.
