NEW YORK, Jan 9, 2026, 20:10 EST — Market closed
- Mastercard shares fell 0.8% on Friday, bucking a broader market rise.
- The stock traded ex-dividend for a 87-cent quarterly payout due in February.
- Investors are eyeing next week’s U.S. inflation data and late-month earnings timing.
Mastercard (MA) shares fell 0.8% on Friday to $575.54, after trading between $575.00 and $581.26.
The move came on a day Wall Street pushed higher, with the S&P 500 closing at a record after a softer December jobs report. The backdrop matters for payment networks because rate bets and growth fears can quickly spill into spending expectations. (Reuters)
Away from the tape, Apple said JPMorgan Chase will become the new issuer of Apple Card, while Mastercard stays on as the payments network. “We’re thrilled to work with Apple and Chase to continue our longstanding partnership on Apple Card,” said Linda Kirkpatrick, Mastercard’s president of the Americas. (Apple)
Chase put the transition at about 24 months and said the portfolio is expected to bring over $20 billion of card balances onto its platform, subject to regulatory approvals. JPMorgan also flagged a $2.2 billion provision for credit losses — an accounting reserve for expected loan losses — tied to the forward purchase commitment. (JPMorgan Chase)
Friday was also the stock’s ex-dividend session for Mastercard’s next quarterly cash dividend. The company declared a payout of 87 cents a share, a 14% increase from the prior dividend, payable on Feb. 9 to shareholders of record on Jan. 9, and also approved a new $14 billion share repurchase program. (Business Wire)
“Ex-dividend” means a stock starts trading without the right to receive the next dividend; buyers on or after that date typically do not get the payout. With the U.S. move to T+1 settlement — the shortened trade-settlement cycle — the record date and ex-dividend date generally fall on the same day, and prices often adjust around the dividend amount. (Investopedia)
But the longer-running risk case hasn’t disappeared. Visa and Mastercard still face pressure over “swipe fees” — the charges merchants pay when customers use cards — with U.S. merchant litigation and settlement terms continuing to hang over the sector. (Reuters)
Next week, traders will be watching U.S. consumer price data for December, due Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET, for clues on inflation and the Fed path. The Fed’s next policy decision is set for Jan. 28 after a Jan. 27–28 meeting, while Nasdaq’s earnings calendar currently points to Jan. 29 for Mastercard — an estimate until the company posts a date. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
