New York, January 18, 2026, 04:56 (ET) — The market has closed.
Visa Inc (V) shares are heading into a holiday-shortened week with Washington in the spotlight, after Bloomberg News reported that the White House is considering executive action to cap credit card interest rates. Officials are still ironing out the details. Visa last traded up 0.2% at $328.30, after fluctuating between $325.54 and $329.20 in the previous session. U.S. stock markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Reuters)
President Donald Trump has proposed a one-year 10% cap starting Jan. 20, but banks and investors remain uncertain about what, if anything, will actually change that day. That uncertainty matters: any alteration in card pricing could affect how much credit lenders offer and how much consumers spend — the key driver behind Visa’s fees. (AP News)
Industry insiders say there’s currently no legal obligation to comply, leaving lenders to decide whether to roll out cheaper cards with fewer benefits or hold off for a rule that might never materialize. “I think there will be an ongoing conversation between the industry and the administration,” said Stephen Biggar, a banking analyst at Argus Research. Brian Mulberry, senior client portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management, cautioned that “policy volatility is likely to create market volatility” until the path forward becomes clearer. (Reuters)
Visa doesn’t make money from interest on card balances. Instead, its revenue comes from processing transactions across its network.
The rate cap poses an indirect threat: banks might clamp down on credit, cut back on rewards, or tweak card terms, leading to slower spending. Some consumers could switch to debit cards, which still run on Visa rails but operate under different economics.
Mastercard, Visa’s nearest rival, fell 0.6% on Friday.
Traders are currently lumping the card networks in with the big banks, despite the fact that the banks actually set the rates. The upcoming session might turn on whether Washington delivers a clear plan or just adds to the noise.
Visa announced it will release its fiscal first-quarter earnings on Jan. 29 after the market closes at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a webcast at 5 p.m. ET. The company also noted it is currently in its usual “quiet period,” during which executives refrain from discussing results with investors until the earnings report is published. (Visa)
These results could serve as the first clear trigger for Visa shares following the recent policy noise. Attention will zero in on payment-volume trends and insights into cross-border spending as travel continues into winter.
Still, the rate-cap debate might fizzle out or get bogged down in Congress and lawsuits, leaving the market focused on headlines rather than fundamentals. The risk: a sharp credit squeeze that curtails spending before changes in payment habits have a chance to kick in.
Coming up next: Visa will hold its earnings conference call for January 29 at 5 p.m. ET. (Visa)
