New York, Jan 12, 2026, 5:11 PM EST — After-hours
- Visa shares dipped roughly 1.8% in late trading, following a broader sell-off in card-linked stocks
- The White House’s renewed effort to cap credit-card interest rates at 10% has reignited concerns over policy risk
- Traders are focused on big-bank earnings due this week and any updates before Jan. 20
Visa Inc. shares dropped further in after-hours trading Monday, following a daytime slump as investors dumped card and payments stocks. The selloff came after President Donald Trump advocated a 10% ceiling on credit-card interest rates. Visa fell 1.8%, closing at $343.20.
This move hits the market with a stark policy signal right as banks kick off their quarterly earnings season and investors wrestle with predicting U.S. consumer credit trends for 2026. The chatter around a cap throws a wider uncertainty over the entire card ecosystem — from lenders and networks to rewards-loaded co-brands — a scenario traders detest.
Visa doesn’t actually lend money to cardholders; it just processes transactions. But when credit conditions tighten or card programs adjust to safeguard issuer margins, payment volumes can slow down—and that can hit network growth fast.
Trading proved choppy. Visa swung between an intraday low of $337.54 and a high of $346.37, with roughly 13.2 million shares changing hands.
On Friday, Trump proposed a one-year cap of 10% on credit-card interest rates starting Jan. 20, but didn’t specify how companies would be forced to comply. Wall Street analysts quickly flagged significant legal and political barriers. UBS noted, “It would take an Act of Congress,” while Bill Ryan of Seaport Research pointed out that “affordability has become a top concern.” J.P. Morgan’s Vivek Juneja cautioned the move might “push consumers towards more expensive debt.” Visa and Mastercard each dropped about 1.8% during the session, with American Express declining even more sharply. (Reuters)
Lenders face a clear threat: a hard cap would slash interest income from revolving balances — the unpaid amounts cardholders carry month to month. Analysts say issuers might fight back by trimming credit limits, shutting accounts with weaker credit profiles, or revamping rewards programs to maintain profits.
Visa would feel the impact indirectly, yet noticeably, if credit tightens, spending slows, or co-branded card deals get disrupted. Just the chatter around these issues can alter investor positioning. The market often sees Visa as a liquid stand-in for U.S. card usage whenever such headlines emerge.
The downside hinges on Washington, not only market moves. Should Congress stall the proposal, the sector might recover some losses as investors turn back to fundamentals like spending and cross-border travel flows. But if lawmakers make progress or details solidify, the stock could remain under pressure.
Investors will soon get a closer look at credit trends and card business updates from the banks. JPMorgan Chase is set to report earnings Tuesday, Jan. 13. The following day, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are all on deck to share their results Wednesday, Jan. 14. (JPMorgan Chase)
Visa’s 2026 annual meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27, marking a key date for shareholders. Traders, however, are focused on Jan. 20, the date Trump highlighted, watching for any administration signals that could turn the cap from a headline into a concrete plan. (Sec)
