Company Overview - Mastercard is a global financial services company with a valuation exceeding $500 billion [2] - The company trades at more than 80% of Visa's valuation [2] Investment Strategy - The Value Portfolio focuses on building retirement portfolios using a fact-based research strategy [2] - This strategy includes extensive analysis of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations [2] - The portfolio manager invests real money in the stocks recommended [2]

Accessible version This analysis differentiates between crowded stocks with positive and negative catalysts. "Crowded Positives" (high ownership + positive Triple Momentum) currently include Meta, Broadcom, Netflix, Visa, Mastercard, and Wells Fargo. In contrast, crowded stocks with Negative Triple Momentum ("Crowded Negatives") include Meituan, LVMH, Pilbara Minerals, Abercrombie, Zip, and Central Depository. Chart 1: Crowded Positives include Meta, Broadcom, and Netflix, while Under-owned Negatives includ ...

USA | Payments, Processors & IT Services Equity Research Stablecoin Temperature Check: What Companies Are Saying and Doing We revisit the discussion on stablecoins, compiling notable commentary from 2Q earnings calls (and announced partnerships) across the payments ecosystem, banks, and other FinTechs. Consistent with our view, management teams largely view cross-border (in select geographies) as the primary use- case for stablecoins. Improvements to internal treasury management was also a common thread. Mo ...

Industry Overview - The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the FinTech space, encompassing card and payment processing, ATM services, money remittance, and investment solutions [2] - The industry operates proprietary global payments networks that facilitate transactions in multiple currencies, benefiting from ongoing digitization accelerated by the pandemic [2] Key Trends - Digital payment innovations such as cryptocurrencies, biometric verification, QR code payments, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions are reshaping the industry, enhancing user convenience and creating new revenue streams [3] - The rise in global trade, international travel, and remittance demand positions the industry favorably for growth, particularly for companies with advanced cross-border payment platforms [4] - Resilient consumer spending, driven by e-commerce growth and smartphone usage, is expected to sustain transaction growth, with a projected 2.3% year-over-year increase in overall consumer spending in 2025 [5] - Companies are increasingly pursuing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and tech investments to build integrated digital ecosystems, with potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025 likely to lower financing costs [6] Performance Metrics - The Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry ranks 57, placing it in the top 23% of 245 Zacks industries, indicating positive near-term prospects [8] - The industry has outperformed the Business Services sector and the S&P 500, growing 20.8% over the past year compared to 9.3% for the sector and 16.6% for the S&P 500 [10] - The industry currently trades at a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 22.24X, slightly below the S&P 500's 22.84X and the sector's 21.95X [13] Company Highlights - PayPal is recognized for its secure digital payment solutions and strategic partnerships, with a 2025 earnings estimate of $5.22 per share, reflecting a 12.3% increase year-over-year [16][17] - WEX benefits from a strong fuel network and strategic acquisitions, with a 2025 earnings estimate of $15.63 per share, indicating a 2.3% rise from the previous year [22][23] - Visa, a leader in digital payments, has a 2025 earnings estimate of $11.43 per share, showing a 13.7% increase year-over-year, supported by strong performance in key markets [25][27] - Mastercard's cross-border payments platform supports over 150 currencies, with a 2025 earnings estimate of $16.31 per share, indicating an 11.7% rise from the previous year [29][30] - Fiserv provides a comprehensive range of payment processing solutions, with a 2025 earnings estimate of $10.21 per share, reflecting a 16% increase year-over-year [33][34]

BlackRock. Mastercard. Goldman Sachs. BNY. JPMorgan.The entire financial system is coming onchain. Scalable infrastructure matters.Markets Move Faster on Sei. ($/acc) https://t.co/TRXCEiGLLX ...

Strategic collaboration will streamline onboarding for financial institutions and strengthen access to Mastercard Move, Mastercard's portfolio of money movement capabilities The solution's seamless integration with Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infosys, will play a key role in creating an efficient pathway for financial institutions to access Mastercard Move's cross-border capabilities in a fraction of the typical implementation time and without the intensive resou ...

🚨JUST IN: CIRCLE TEAMS UP WITH MASTERCARD AND FINASTRA TO BRING STABLECOIN SETTLEMENT INTO MAINSTREAM FINANCE ...

Core Insights - Mastercard has strengthened its partnership with Circle to introduce USDC and EURC settlements for acquirers in the EEMEA region, with Arab Financial Services and Eazy Financial Services being the first to benefit from this initiative [1][10] - The expanded partnership allows acquiring institutions to settle transactions in USDC or EURC, facilitating faster and more cost-efficient digital trade across emerging markets [2][4] - This initiative aligns with Mastercard's strategy to promote stablecoin adoption, enhance payment capabilities, and expand its presence in the crypto ecosystem [3][4] Company Developments - Mastercard supports various regulated stablecoins, including USDC, USDG, FIUSD, and PYUSD, while also advancing cross-border remittances and B2B payments through its platforms [4] - The collaboration with Circle is expected to increase the usage of Mastercard-branded cards and boost net revenues derived from its payment network, which saw a 17% year-over-year increase in total net revenues in Q2 2025 [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors such as PayPal and Visa are also expanding their presence in the crypto space, with PayPal allowing users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and Visa supporting crypto-linked card programs [6][7][8] - PayPal's net revenues rose 5% year-over-year in Q2 2025, while Visa's net revenues advanced 14% year-over-year in Q3 fiscal 2025 [7][8] Financial Performance - Mastercard's shares have increased by 25.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 20.8% [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard's 2025 earnings indicates an 11.7% rise from the previous year, with a projected revenue growth of 15.1% year-over-year [13] Valuation Metrics - Mastercard trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 32.75, which is above the industry average of 22.24 [12]

Core Insights - Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL) has faced significant stock volatility, with a recent decline of approximately 13% to around $125 per share, despite a 4x increase since its IPO at $31 in June 2025 [2] - The company's revenue is heavily reliant on interest from cash and bonds supporting its stablecoins, with 95% of last quarter's revenue coming from this source, raising concerns about future performance amid potential interest rate cuts [2][3] Group 1: Company Performance - Circle's revenue for the most recent quarter increased by 53% year-over-year to $658 million, although the company reported a net loss due to IPO-related expenses [3] - USDC circulation surged by 90% year-over-year to $61.3 billion, with expectations of a long-term annual growth rate of approximately 40% [3] - The company has launched Arc, a new public blockchain aimed at enhancing stablecoin payments, positioning itself against major payment networks like Visa and Mastercard [5][6] Group 2: Market Position and Regulatory Environment - The U.S. has made strides in regulatory clarity for stablecoins with the GENIUS Act, which could facilitate mainstream adoption of USDC for remittances and B2B transactions [4] - Despite its growth, USDC holds a 26% market share in the dollar-backed stablecoin market, trailing behind Tether's USDT, which commands approximately 67% [4] Group 3: Challenges and Future Outlook - Circle's non-interest revenues are projected to decline in the latter half of the year, raising concerns about the sustainability of its primary revenue source [7] - The demand for stablecoins is closely tied to cryptocurrency market cycles, which can lead to unpredictable revenue fluctuations [7][8] - Circle's revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2025 was $1.89 billion, with profits around $172 million, indicating challenges in scaling compared to competitors like Coinbase [8]

Investors interested in Business Services stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Adecco SA (AHEXY) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.Adecco SA is a member of our Business Services group, which includes 254 different companies and currently sits at #4 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks wi ...