Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that despite budget constraints, consumer demand for electronics and new clothing remains strong, leading to a year-over-year retail sales increase of approximately 4% during the holiday season in the U.S. [1] Group 2 - Visa reported that from November 1 to December 21, U.S. retail sales (excluding automobiles, gasoline, and dining) grew by 4.2%, slightly below the October forecast of 4.6% for the full two months [1] - Mastercard indicated that its data, which includes retail and dining establishments, showed a year-over-year sales increase of 3.9%, surpassing the previous expectation of 3.6% [1] Group 3 - Both companies noted that early promotional activities and the convenience of online shopping contributed to the growth of online sales, which outpaced physical store sales [2] - Visa stated that physical stores still dominate consumer spending, accounting for 73% of transactions, while online transactions represent 27% [2] Group 4 - The growth in consumer spending was led by electronics, with Visa reporting a year-over-year sales increase of 5.8% for products like televisions and smartphones, followed by a 5.3% increase in clothing and accessories [2] - Mastercard mentioned that seasonal promotions and cold weather stimulated demand for new clothing, with jewelry also seeing increased consumer interest this year [2]

Core Insights - U.S. retail sales excluding automotive increased by 3.9% year-over-year from November 1 through December 21 according to preliminary insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse [1] Group 1: Consumer Behavior - Consumers demonstrated flexibility and confidence during the shopping season, engaging in early shopping and leveraging promotions [1] - There was a notable investment in meaningful experiences and wish-list items by consumers [1]

Sales for U.S. retailers have increased by about 4% so far this holiday season as Americans balanced tighter budgets with a desire to upgrade gadgets and refresh wardrobes, according to preliminary fi... ...

Core Insights - Fiserv, Inc. and Mastercard are extending their partnership to enhance agentic commerce for merchants [1] - Fiserv will be among the first major payment processors to utilize Mastercard's Agent Pay Acceptance Framework at scale [1] - This collaboration aims to improve secure, intelligent, and interoperable agentic commerce, enabling merchants to adopt AI-driven payment solutions confidently [1] Group 1 - The partnership focuses on advancing merchant acceptance through the Agent Pay framework [1] - The initiative is positioned to raise standards in the payment processing industry [1] - The collaboration emphasizes the importance of security and interoperability in modern payment systems [1]

Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:MA) is one of the best forever stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On December 16, Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:MA) announced a strategic partnership with LoanPro to launch Loan on Card. The solution is designed to make it easier for lenders to deliver loans to approved consumer and small business borrowers through virtual and physical card-based experiences. Mastercard Incorporated (MA) Partners with LoanPro to Offer Loan on Card rvlsoft / Shutterstock.com The Loan on Card will go in ...

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a combined payment of $167.5m to resolve a class action lawsuit concerning ATM access fees. The proposed settlement was submitted to a federal court in Washington, US, and awaits judicial approval, reported Reuters. The settlement is intended to benefit potentially millions of individuals who paid unreimbursed access fees for cash withdrawals at independent, non-bank automated teller machines (ATMs). Visa is set to provide around $88.8m, while Mastercard will contribu ...

Core Insights - Visa and Mastercard will pay $167.5 million to settle a lawsuit regarding ATM fees, which accused them of conspiring to inflate access fees for ATM users [1][2][3] Settlement Details - The settlement will provide compensation to millions of ATM users who incurred unreimbursed access fees at independent, non-bank ATMs since October 2007, with Visa contributing approximately $88.8 million and Mastercard around $78.7 million [3][4] - The lawsuit was initiated in 2011, challenging the companies' rules that allegedly restricted independent ATM operators from offering lower fees [4] Legal Context - The companies have denied any wrongdoing, and previously settled related claims for $197.5 million concerning overcharges at bank-operated ATMs [4] - Plaintiffs' attorneys described the settlement as a favorable outcome given the risks of ongoing litigation and plan to request up to 30% of the fund, approximately $50 million, for legal fees [5] Industry Outlook - Visa's 2026 outlook indicates that approximately $11 trillion in cash remains in circulation globally, suggesting that cash will continue to play a significant role in economies for the foreseeable future [5][6] - The company anticipates that 2026 will mark the first year when half of the world's consumer payments will be made using card credentials, indicating a shift towards digital payments [6] Cash Usage Trends - Cash remains integral to informal economies and small-value transactions, particularly in regions with limited banking access, while also being used for budgeting and privacy in advanced economies [7]

Group 1 - Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is recognized as one of the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now, with a consensus Strong Buy rating from Wall Street analysts and a one-year average share price target of $685.25, indicating a potential upside of 20% [1] - Recent analyst updates include Oppenheimer's Rayna Kumar maintaining a Buy rating with a price target of $683, and Evercore ISI raising its target to $610 from $600 while keeping an In Line rating [2] - HSBC upgraded Mastercard's rating to Buy from Hold on December 8, increasing its price target to $633 from $598, citing the company's strong financial position and valuation [3] Group 2 - On December 9, Mastercard declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.87, which is a 14% increase from the previous dividend, scheduled for payment on February 9, 2026 [4] - Mastercard provides financial services through electronic funds transfers to individual consumers, merchants, businesses, and governments [4]

Core Insights - Mastercard is advancing partnerships to enhance merchant access to mobile wallets globally, aligning with Visa's efforts as consumer behavior shifts towards smartphones [1] - The collaboration with TerraPay allows mobile wallet users to access over 150 million Mastercard acceptance points for NFC payments [2] - Mastercard's partnership with Telefonica aims to launch a mobile wallet in Brazil, targeting an addressable market of up to 87 million consumers [4] Industry Trends - NFC technology is becoming crucial for smartphone payments, with Apple easing access to it, which is expected to increase the number of mobile wallets in the market [3] - The trend of contactless payments is growing, with 70% of in-person Mastercard transactions now being contactless, indicating a shift from e-commerce to physical retail [7] - More than half of banks are adopting a "mobile first" strategy for their payment initiatives, reflecting the industry's embrace of mobile wallets [7] Strategic Collaborations - Mastercard's partnership with Alipay aims to facilitate cashless payments for international travelers in China [5] - Collaborations with ecosystem players like TerraPay are essential for scaling mobile wallet adoption and simplifying implementation processes [6] - Both Visa and Mastercard are actively building mobile wallet scale through various partnerships, with internal research tracking the popularity of these wallets [8]

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to pay $167.5 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit. The suit, which was first filed back in October 2011, accused the two major credit card companies of conspiring to keep ATM fees artificially high. Most Read from Fast Company If approved, the proposed settlement filed on Thursday in Washington will bring an end to “almost fourteen years of vigorously contested litigation.” The lawsuit alleged that both Visa and Mastercard “participated in an unlawful co ...