This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Merchants should support a swipe-fee settlement with Visa and Mastercard because it gives them more flexibility to impose surcharges, according to plaintiffs in a 21-year-old lawsuit targeting Visa and Mastercard fees. A proposed settlement with the two largest card networks over interchange fees and card-acceptance rules presents an opportunity to educate consume ...

Core Insights - Lemon has launched Argentina's first Bitcoin-backed credit card on Visa's network, allowing users to spend pesos while retaining their Bitcoin, treating digital assets as a financial safety net rather than a payment medium [1][9] Group 1: Product Features - The card allows users to access peso credit using Bitcoin as collateral, eliminating the need for traditional credit histories, thus separating long-term crypto investments from everyday spending [2] - Lemon plans to enhance the card by offering customizable collateral options and enabling payments in dollars through stablecoins [2] Group 2: User Engagement - Cardholders benefit from commission-free crypto purchases, early access to new features, and dedicated customer support, with initial maintenance fees waived to encourage early adoption [3] - Future discounts related to cryptocurrency activity are intended to maintain user engagement with the platform [3] Group 3: Industry Impact - The launch expands Visa's presence in emerging crypto-linked credit models, potentially increasing transaction volumes and collaborations, positioning crypto integration as a growth lever rather than a niche experiment [4][9] - Competitors like Mastercard and American Express are also advancing in the stablecoin space, with Mastercard partnering with various platforms to enhance blockchain payment adoption, while American Express is selectively entering the crypto credit market through partnerships [5][6][7] Group 4: Financial Performance - Visa's shares have increased by 2.7% over the past year, contrasting with a 13.3% decline in the industry [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2026 earnings indicates an 11.7% increase from the previous year, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.64, above the industry average of 19.75 [10][12]

Visa (V) stock has dropped by more than 6% in the last five trading days, although the overall market has remained fairly stable. The reason for this drop is not related to earnings or guidance but rather politics. Instead, President Donald Trump has renewed his attack on the swipe fees associated with credit cards. A market is likely to move quickly when politics meets profit pools, especially when it is as visible as it is with interchange rates. The value of Visa already embeds a degree of stability a ...

Core Insights - The "Golden Enterprise Project - Visa Promoting Cultural Tourism Consumption and Financial Empowerment for Small and Micro Enterprises" has achieved significant milestones in providing financial support to small and micro enterprises in the cultural tourism sector [1][8] - The project has served over 30,000 enterprises and merchants across nearly 20 cities in China through financial education initiatives [1][4] - Visa has enhanced the foreign card payment capabilities of over 5,000 small and micro enterprises in the "Beijing Central Axis Barrier-Free Payment Service Tourism Demonstration Zone," facilitating easier payment solutions for inbound tourists [1][5] Financial Support and Training Initiatives - Visa, in collaboration with the China Financial Education Development Foundation and other partners, is conducting financial capability training for small and micro enterprises to improve their digital operations and international payment processing [4][11] - The training programs cover major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Suzhou, reaching over 30,000 businesses [4][11] Market Recovery and Economic Impact - The Chinese inbound tourism market is recovering rapidly, with the number of inbound tourists exceeding the total for the entire year of 2024 by September 2025 [2][9] - In the first three quarters of 2025, Beijing's inbound tourism revenue reached $5.02 billion, surpassing the total for 2024, while Shanghai welcomed over 6.3 million inbound tourists, achieving 94.3% of 2024's total [2][9] Innovative Payment Solutions - Visa is promoting innovative payment solutions such as "camera scan payment" and "contactless payment" to enhance the payment experience for international tourists [6][13] - The "Beijing Central Axis" initiative has successfully upgraded the foreign card acceptance capabilities of merchants from over 1,000 to more than 5,000, with plans to replicate this model in other key inbound tourism cities [5][12] Future Plans - In 2026, Visa plans to collaborate with partners to advance projects in 15 pilot cities focused on international consumption environment construction, continuing to promote diverse payment solutions [7][14] - The company aims to enhance the inbound payment environment and improve the consumer experience for inbound tourists, contributing to the high-quality development of the inbound tourism sector [7][14]

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the best stocks to buy in 2026 for beginners. On January 13, Citi reaffirmed a Buy rating on Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and set a price target of $450.00. The same day, Bank of America Securities reaffirmed a Buy rating on the stock and set a price target of $382. Is Visa Inc. (V) the Best Blue Chip Stock to Buy for 2025? The rating updates came the same day Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) released its Global Economic Outlook for 2026, stating that although headline growth remains steady at 2.7%, ...

Core Viewpoint - Visa is facing regulatory pressures that could impact its business model, particularly concerning swipe fees, but its strong fundamentals and growth prospects continue to attract positive analyst sentiment. Financial Performance - Visa reported fiscal 2025 GAAP net income of $20.1 billion ($10.20 per share) and non-GAAP net income of $22.5 billion ($11.47 per share), with net revenue of $40 billion, reflecting an 11% to 12% increase on a constant-currency basis [7] - In fiscal Q4, Visa achieved a GAAP profit of $5.1 billion ($2.62 per share) and a non-GAAP profit of $5.8 billion ($2.98 per share) on $10.7 billion of revenue, also up approximately 11% to 12% [7] - The company generated $6.1 billion in buybacks and dividends in the quarter, totaling $22.8 billion for the full year, supporting its premium valuation [7] Market Position and Valuation - Visa trades at about 26.8x forward earnings, significantly higher than the sector average of 11.5x, indicating its strong market position and growth outlook [2] - Despite a 3.6% increase over the past 52 weeks, Visa's stock is down approximately 6.3% year-to-date due to regulatory concerns [2] Regulatory Environment - The endorsement of the "Credit Card Competition Act" by President Trump has introduced new regulatory risks, potentially affecting Visa's swipe fee structure [6] - The proposed legislation could force large banks to offer merchants lower-cost routing options, challenging Visa's economic model [4] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts expect Visa's earnings for the upcoming quarter to be $3.14 per share, representing a 14.18% year-over-year growth [12] - Major firms like Bank of America and HSBC have upgraded Visa's stock to "Buy," citing strong fundamentals and growth potential despite regulatory risks [13][14] - The consensus among analysts is a "Strong Buy" rating, with a mean price target of $403.09, suggesting a potential upside of about 22.5% from current levels [14] Strategic Initiatives - Visa is collaborating with Fiserv to enhance its payment solutions, integrating AI-driven commerce capabilities to improve transaction processes for merchants [8][9] - The company is also expanding its real-time payment capabilities through partnerships like Lumanu, targeting creator and contractor payouts globally [11]

Core Viewpoint - The financial sector, particularly credit card issuers, is currently experiencing stock price declines despite potential long-term profitability due to proposed regulatory changes on interest rates [2][8]. Group 1: Impact of Proposed Interest Rate Cap - President Trump proposed a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, effective January 20, which has led to significant declines in stock prices of major credit card issuers [2][3]. - Major credit card issuers such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Capital One Financial, and Citigroup saw stock declines ranging from 4.5% to 9.9% following the announcement [9]. - Payment networks Visa and Mastercard also experienced stock drops of 8% and 6.9%, respectively, indicating a broader impact on the financial sector [4]. Group 2: Historical Context and Legislative Challenges - Previous attempts to cap credit card interest rates have failed, with a similar proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders stalling in Congress last year [5][6]. - The financial industry is expected to strongly oppose the current proposal, suggesting that it is unlikely to be enacted [6][7]. - Analysts predict that the banking industry will effectively counter this proposal before it gains traction [7].

We recently published 9 Stocks Jim Cramer Talked About.  Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer talked about. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the largest payment card processors in the world. Its shares are up by 4% over the past year, but they have lost 5% year-to-date. The stock, like that of American Express, has struggled after President Trump suggested a 10% cap on credit card APR rates in order to improve affordability for consumers. On January 13th, UBS reiterated a Buy rating for Visa ...

Core Viewpoint - Visa stock is currently considered an attractive investment due to its high margins, strong cash generation capabilities, and a significant discount in its valuation compared to the previous year [2][3]. Financial Performance - Visa's stock has declined by 6.5% this year, but it is 43% cheaper based on its Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio compared to a year ago [3]. - In Q4 2025, Visa reported a 17% increase in data processing revenue and a 12% rise in higher-margin cross-border volume, driven by strong consumer spending [3]. - Processed transactions grew by 10%, indicating improved network utility [3]. - Revenue from value-added services increased by 25% due to new partnerships and technological investments [4]. - The company anticipates low double-digit net revenue growth for FY2026, supported by global events like the Olympics [4]. Competitive Position - Visa dominates the transition from cash to digital payments, operating in over 200 countries and benefiting from strong network effects [5]. - The asset-light business model allows Visa to maintain exceptional margins and strong free cash flow, facilitating consistent buybacks and dividends [5]. - Growth drivers such as cross-border travel, contactless payments, and B2B transactions remain robust [5]. Profitability Metrics - Visa's recent operating cash flow margin is approximately 57.6%, with an operating margin of 66.4% for the last twelve months [11]. - Long-term profitability metrics show an operating cash flow margin of roughly 58.9% and an operating margin of 66.8% over the last three years [11]. - Revenue growth for Visa was 11.3% for the last twelve months and 10.9% over the last three years [11]. Valuation - Visa's stock is currently available at a P/S multiple of 10.6, representing a 43% discount compared to one year ago [11].

Core Viewpoint - President Trump's unexpected request for credit card companies to set a cap on interest rates at 10% could significantly impact the profitability of the financial sector, leading to a decline in financial stocks and raising concerns among bank executives during earnings calls [1][4]. Financial Sector Impact - The proposed interest rate cap is half of the current average rate on outstanding balances, potentially erasing billions in profits for credit card issuers [1]. - Major banks such as Capital One (COF.US), JPMorgan Chase (JPM.US), and American Express (AXP.US) experienced significant stock declines following the announcement [1]. - Analysts from KBW indicated that if the policy is implemented, it would severely weaken the profitability of credit card issuers and could trigger economic repercussions [4]. Legislative Developments - Trump has called for Congressional support for the Credit Card Competition Act, which targets the nearly $200 billion in swipe fees charged by banks and payment companies, negatively affecting stocks of Visa (V.US) and Mastercard (MA.US) [4]. - Some analysts doubt the feasibility of the interest rate cap, suggesting that the probability of it being enacted is less than 20% due to the lack of legislative support [4]. Broader Economic Effects - Bank executives have warned that the interest rate cap could lead to a significant economic slowdown and push consumers towards unregulated lending sources [5]. - The proposed changes are expected to have ripple effects beyond the financial sector, impacting industries such as airlines and retail, which rely on partnerships with credit card companies for substantial revenue [7]. - Airlines like Delta (DAL.US) and United Airlines (UAL.US) saw stock declines, as did retailers like Macy's (M.US) and Kohl's (KSS.US), due to concerns over the potential impact of the proposed legislation [7].