Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly seeking growth stocks, particularly in the financial sector, to achieve above-average returns, but identifying such stocks involves significant risk and volatility [1] Group 1: Growth Stock Identification - The Zacks Growth Style Score system aids in identifying promising growth stocks by analyzing real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - MasterCard (MA) is currently highlighted as a recommended growth stock, possessing a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Earnings growth is a critical factor for growth investors, with double-digit growth being particularly attractive [3] - MasterCard's historical EPS growth rate stands at 21.5%, with a projected EPS growth of 11.6% for the current year, surpassing the industry average of 11.3% [4] Group 3: Asset Utilization - The asset utilization ratio, or sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, is an important metric for assessing efficiency in generating sales [5] - MasterCard's S/TA ratio is 0.62, indicating that the company generates $0.62 in sales for every dollar in assets, compared to the industry average of 0.41 [5] Group 4: Sales Growth - Sales growth is another key indicator, with MasterCard expected to achieve a 15% sales growth this year, significantly higher than the industry average of 4.8% [6] Group 5: Earnings Estimate Revisions - Positive trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with stock price movements [7] - MasterCard's current-year earnings estimates have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 1.9% over the past month [8] Group 6: Overall Positioning - MasterCard has achieved a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 due to positive earnings estimate revisions, positioning it well for potential outperformance [10]

Core Viewpoint - MasterCard has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system tracks earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - An increase in earnings estimates typically leads to higher fair value calculations by institutional investors, resulting in stock price movements [4]. MasterCard's Earnings Outlook - MasterCard is expected to earn $16.29 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with no year-over-year change anticipated [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MasterCard has increased by 2.1%, reflecting a positive trend in earnings estimates [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with only the top 20% of stocks receiving a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating [9][10]. - MasterCard's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Group 1 - Adecco SA is part of the Business Services group, which consists of 255 companies and ranks 7 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and revisions, with Adecco SA currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Adecco SA's full-year earnings has increased by 4.2% in the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment [4] Group 2 - Adecco SA has achieved a year-to-date return of 26.3%, significantly outperforming the average return of -1% for Business Services companies [4] - In contrast, MasterCard has a year-to-date return of 8.1% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - Adecco SA belongs to the Outsourcing industry, which has seen an average loss of 14.4% this year, highlighting its superior performance [6] Group 3 - Both Adecco SA and MasterCard are expected to continue their strong performance, making them noteworthy for investors interested in Business Services stocks [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of Wall Street analysts' recommendations, particularly focusing on MasterCard (MA), and highlights the differences between average brokerage recommendations (ABR) and Zacks Rank as tools for investors [1][5]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations for MasterCard - MasterCard has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.47, indicating a position between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 38 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 38 recommendations, 27 are Strong Buy and 4 are Buy, which account for 71.1% and 10.5% of all recommendations respectively [2]. Group 2: Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Solely relying on brokerage recommendations for investment decisions may not be advisable, as studies show they often fail to guide investors effectively towards stocks with high price appreciation potential [5]. - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, with five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, indicating a misalignment of interests between these firms and retail investors [6][10]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as an Alternative - Zacks Rank is presented as a more effective tool for predicting stock price movements, categorizing stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, which have shown a strong correlation with near-term stock price changes [8][11]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MasterCard has increased by 1.9% over the past month to $16.29, reflecting analysts' growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects [13]. Group 4: Current Investment Outlook for MasterCard - The recent change in the consensus estimate, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for MasterCard, suggesting that the Buy-equivalent ABR may serve as a useful guide for investors [14].

Core Insights - Earnings growth is the primary focus for companies, as profitability is essential for survival and influences share prices significantly [1][3] - Companies like Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), and Mastercard Incorporated (MA) are currently demonstrating strong earnings growth [2][9] Earnings Estimates & Share Price Movements - Stock prices can decline despite earnings growth if they fail to meet market expectations, while prices may rally following an earnings decline [3] - Earnings estimates reflect analysts' views on sales growth, product demand, competitive environment, profit margins, and cost control, serving as a valuable tool for investment decisions [4] Investment Strategy - Investors should focus on stocks with historical earnings growth and increasing quarterly and annual earnings estimates [5] - Screening measures have been established to identify stocks with significant earnings growth and positive estimate revisions, including Zacks Rank and historical EPS growth [6][7] Top Stocks Identified - The screening process narrowed down 7,839 stocks to 20, highlighting the top three: - Microsoft (MSFT) with an expected earnings growth rate of 12.3% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [11] - Mastercard (MA) with an expected earnings growth rate of 11.4% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [12] - Apple (AAPL) with an expected earnings growth rate of 8.2% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [10]

总体而言，瑞银认为万事达美国的三项主要业务转型(Capital One Debit、Citizens Debit、Wells Fargo SMB商业贷款)将在峰值时期导致万事达卡美国业务量下降约300至400个基点(2026年第二/三季度，具 体取决于Capital One Debit的速度)。作为参考，Citizens Debit业务从Visa迁移至万事达卡始于2024年 初，耗时6个月完成全面转换，2023年其业务量约为420亿美元，根据尼尔森的数据，占万事达卡2023年 美国业务量的1.6%/美国借记卡的3.5%。同样，富国银行的小企业商业信贷业务在2024年第二季度完全 迁移至万事达卡(在2022年第一季度收益电话会议上宣布了这一消息，尽管大部分迁移工作在2024年上 半年完成)，2022年其业务量总计约190亿美元(根据尼尔森的数据，占万事达卡2022年美国业务量的 0.8%/美国信贷的1.5%)。最后，Capital One Debit业务组合于6月开始迁移(早期试点阶段仅涉及部分用 户)，预计将在2026年初分阶段迁移到Discover Network(届时所有借记卡交易将全部在Discover ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent removal of adult games from Steam has broader implications for the gaming industry, highlighting the influence of payment processors on content availability and developer survival [1][10][21]. Group 1: Steam's Actions - Steam has historically maintained strict controls over adult content, but the recent mass removal of games was unexpected and extensive [1][2]. - Following the removals, developers began altering game titles to avoid being flagged [2][3]. - On July 16, Steam updated its guidelines to include a new rule that requires compliance with the standards set by payment processors like Visa and Mastercard [10][11]. Group 2: Collective Shout's Influence - The organization Collective Shout claimed responsibility for the pressure on Steam, leveraging its influence to impact payment processors [3][5]. - Collective Shout has a history of successfully advocating against games perceived as promoting violence against women, such as GTA5 [5][21]. - The organization sent over 1,000 emails to credit card companies, arguing that certain games normalize abuse and exploitation, which pressured these companies to act against Steam [7][8]. Group 3: Payment Processors' Role - Payment processors are primarily concerned with risk management and brand protection, leading them to distance themselves from adult content [14][19]. - The lack of clear standards from payment processors means that game removals can appear arbitrary, influenced by public outcry rather than consistent criteria [21][26]. - The situation raises concerns about the power of payment processors to dictate what content is available to consumers, potentially leading to broader censorship [21][26]. Group 4: Community Response - Players have begun to organize against the influence of payment processors, with petitions gathering around 200,000 signatures, significantly outnumbering Collective Shout's support [28][31]. - The International Game Developers Association has called for greater transparency and fairness in content moderation, though its impact remains uncertain [35][37]. - The ongoing situation reflects a growing discontent with the power dynamics between content creators, platforms, and payment processors, suggesting potential future shifts in the industry [37].

Stablecoin Adoption - Visa and Mastercard indicate stablecoin usage is negligible and poses no immediate threat to their market dominance [1] - The current scale of stablecoin usage is significantly lower than Visa's $15 trillion annual transaction volume [1] Market Suitability - Visa and Mastercard suggest stablecoins are better suited for countries with unstable fiat currencies [1]

Core Viewpoint - Mastercard Inc. reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, leading to upward revisions from analysts due to accelerating growth in value-added services and solid international volume trends [1][2]. Financial Performance - Adjusted revenue for the second quarter was $8.13 billion, with earnings per share at $4.15, surpassing consensus estimates [2]. - Total net revenue increased by 16% year-over-year, while revenue from value-added services rose by 23% on a reported basis and 22% in constant currency [2]. Analyst Revisions - RBC Capital Markets raised its price forecast for Mastercard from $650 to $656, citing stronger-than-expected results and upward revisions in full-year guidance [3]. - Fiscal 2025 revenue is now projected at $32.68 billion with EPS of $16.45, and for fiscal 2026, revenue is expected to be $36.76 billion with EPS of $18.75 [4]. - JPMorgan increased its price target from $610 to $685, maintaining an Overweight rating, attributing the growth to strong expansion in value-added services [5]. - Goldman Sachs raised its price forecast from $674 to $688, maintaining a Buy rating, highlighting better-than-expected cross-border e-commerce trends [7]. Growth Drivers - Mastercard's transaction processing volume grew by 19% year-over-year, with cross-border volumes also increasing by 19% (15% in constant currency), outperforming Visa [7]. - Analysts noted strong July trends and positive third-quarter guidance as indicators of continued momentum [4]. Future Projections - JPMorgan revised fiscal 2025 organic revenue growth to 13% and maintained 11% for 2026, with projected EPS of $16.31 for fiscal 2025 and $18.89 for fiscal 2026 [6]. - Goldman Sachs adjusted EPS estimates to $16.34 for 2025, $18.76 for 2026, and $21.89 for 2027, citing strong operating leverage and sustained demand for Mastercard's services [8].

Core Insights - Mastercard reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results with net revenues of $8.13 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $7.95 billion [1] - Adjusted EPS rose 16% year-over-year to $4.15, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $4.02 [1] Revenue Growth Expectations - Mastercard expects net revenue growth in the high teens for the third quarter, compared to the analyst consensus estimate of $8.29 billion [2] - For fiscal 2025, the company anticipates high-end mid-teens revenue growth, up from prior low teen-digit revenue growth, against the analyst consensus estimate of $31.96 billion [2] Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - Following the earnings announcement, Mastercard shares fell 1% to trade at $560.72 [2] - Analysts have adjusted their price targets for Mastercard, with Keybanc raising it from $635 to $660, Wells Fargo from $625 to $650, Morgan Stanley from $639 to $661, and RBC Capital from $650 to $656, all maintaining an Overweight or Outperform rating [4]