NEW YORK, Jan 10, 2026, 10:25 (ET) — Market closed
- Visa shares dipped 0.7% on Friday, underperforming the wider market rally
- A shareholder filing called for a “yes” vote on a proposal addressing risks linked to online sexual exploitation
- Investors are now eyeing the Jan. 27 annual meeting and the earnings report scheduled for late January
Shares of Visa Inc dipped 0.7% on Friday, closing at $349.77, after a shareholder group filed an SEC notice pushing investors to back a proposal for greater transparency on how the payments giant manages risks linked to AI-driven “deepfake” sexual content. The filing, labeled an “exempt solicitation” — a brief request to influence a vote without a full proxy fight — warned that unchecked exposure could damage Visa’s brand and draw legal and regulatory challenges. (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Why it matters now: With Visa’s annual meeting just around the corner, proxy-season concerns are starting to influence trading—unusual for a firm typically driven by volumes, travel, and interest rates. Shareholders will cast their votes on Jan. 27. (Visa Investor Relations)
The timing is notable as Visa and other payments stocks dipped while Wall Street hit new highs on Friday following a mixed jobs report. “Payrolls were a little bit light relative to consensus, but still fairly strong numbers,” said Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder in New York. (Reuters)
Proposal 7 calls on Visa to release a transparency report detailing how it manages risks tied to its products being used to sell deepfake content, with a focus on “particularly child exploitation,” per the company’s proxy statement. Visa has recommended shareholders vote no, emphasizing, “Visa strictly prohibits the use of our network for illegal activity.” The company highlighted its Integrity Risk Program and the role of acquirers — banks that enroll merchants to accept cards — in monitoring these issues.
Visa’s stock has fallen in back-to-back sessions, now trading just below $350. According to its investor relations page, the 52-week range spans from a low of $299.00 to a high of $375.51. Friday saw roughly 4.9 million shares change hands. (Visa Investor Relations)
Other payments stocks slipped as well. Mastercard dipped 0.8% on Friday, American Express slid 1.9%, and PayPal dropped roughly 1.1%.
The next major event to watch is earnings. Visa is set to report on Jan. 29, according to Nasdaq’s earnings calendar. Investors will zero in on payment volume growth, cross-border travel spending, and any changes in expenses. (Nasdaq)
Proxy-season flareups don’t always hit the share price, and a vote on a report alone won’t alter Visa’s rules or enforcement. The bigger risk still hinges on the economy—a steeper drop in consumer and travel spending could drag card volumes and cross-border fees down.
Before that, the Labor Department will drop December CPI figures on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET, putting inflation back under the microscope. Any surprises here could jolt rate forecasts and the dollar, which traders often tie to demand for payments stocks.
Markets reopen Monday, and all eyes will be on whether Visa can maintain its footing near $350. Investors will also be alert for any new proxy filings crossing the tape. The next key date for the stock is the annual meeting vote set for Jan. 27.
