Summary of Mastercard Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Mastercard (NYSE: MA) - **Date**: November 12, 2025 - **CEO**: Michael Miebach Key Points Industry Context - Mastercard operates in the global payments industry, focusing on card networks and payment solutions [1][2][3] Settlement Update - Mastercard reached a settlement regarding interchange levels for U.S. merchants, which aims to balance interests among parties and preserve the "Honor All Cards" rule [4][5] Competitive Positioning - The settlement allows merchants more options regarding card acceptance, but the core competitive positioning of Mastercard remains strong due to user experience and cybersecurity features [8][9] Macroeconomic Environment - Mastercard reports solid consumer and business spending, with a balanced labor market and wage increases outpacing inflation [11][12][13] - The company remains optimistic about global spending trends despite macroeconomic uncertainties [13] Artificial Intelligence (AI) Utilization - Mastercard has been using AI for transaction security and efficiency for over a decade, with recent advancements in generative AI to enhance customer experience and internal operations [17][18][19] - Approximately one-third of Mastercard's services are now AI-powered, showing significant growth in AI application [21] Agentic Commerce - Agentic commerce is emerging as a new trend where AI-powered agents assist consumers in making purchases, potentially increasing transaction volumes [29][31] - Mastercard has successfully conducted its first agentic transaction, indicating progress in this area [32] Stablecoins - Mastercard is actively participating in the stablecoin space, enabling merchants to settle transactions in stablecoins following regulatory clarity [34][36] - The company has developed a comprehensive approach to on-ramp and off-ramp services for stablecoins, while acknowledging challenges such as interoperability and security [37] Strategic Priorities 1. **Consumer Payments**: Mastercard continues to focus on expanding digital payment penetration, particularly in markets like Mexico where only 23% of personal consumption is digital [41][42] 2. **Commercial Payments**: The commercial payments sector presents a $63 trillion opportunity, with significant momentum in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) [45][46] 3. **Value-Added Services**: Growth in value-added services is driven by a curated portfolio that addresses customer needs before and after transactions [51][52] New Solutions - **Mastercard Commerce Media**: A new offering that leverages transaction data to provide targeted advertising solutions [60][62] - **Mastercard Threat Intelligence**: A cybersecurity solution that combines payment data with threat intelligence to enhance fraud detection [64][66] M&A Strategy - Mastercard's acquisition strategy focuses on strategic fit and speed to market rather than just valuation, ensuring alignment with consumer and commercial services [69][70] Future Outlook - The company is optimistic about secular growth opportunities in payments, particularly in emerging markets and through differentiated services [81] Additional Insights - The company emphasizes the importance of consumer choice and the need for innovative solutions to stay competitive in the evolving payments landscape [32][34][81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $310.7 million, an increase of 34.2% year-over-year, driven by an increased number of billers and higher transaction values [8][12] - Contribution profit reached $98.3 million, up 22.8% year-over-year [12][14] - Adjusted EBITDA was $35.9 million, a 45.9% year-over-year increase, representing a record 36.5% adjusted EBITDA margin [8][18] - The company exceeded the rule of 40 for the quarter, achieving a score of 59 [8][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The customer mix is shifting towards enterprise and larger mid-market clients, resulting in significant growth in revenue and contribution profit per transaction [4][14] - Contribution profit per transaction improved to $0.54, a 3.8% increase from the prior year [14][15] - The number of transactions processed increased to 182.3 million, up 17.4% year-over-year [12][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is in market capture mode, increasing market penetration and entering new verticals, which presents a significant opportunity for share gain [5][6] - The onboarding of a large B2B client in a new vertical has shown significant outperformance, indicating strong market demand [5][29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for a long-term CAGR model of 20% top-line growth and 20%-30% adjusted EBITDA dollar growth [4] - The strategy includes vertical expansion and supporting bidirectional payment rails, which has opened up further total addressable market (TAM) opportunities [5][6] - The company is focused on creating long-term shareholder value through innovation and execution [4][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the visibility for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, supported by strong bookings and backlog [8][26] - The company is optimistic about the future, citing a solid foundation built over the years and the potential for TAM expansion [8][27] - Management noted that the quality of customers is improving, contributing to better cash flow and operational efficiency [47] Other Important Information - The company ended Q3 2025 with total cash of $291.5 million, an increase from $270 million at the end of the previous quarter [20] - Days sales outstanding (DSO) remained flat sequentially and declined by approximately 30% year-over-year, indicating improved working capital efficiency [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on onboarding a new B2B customer in a new vertical - Management highlighted the B2B market as a significant opportunity and noted that the new client is performing better than anticipated [29][30] Question: Contribution profit per transaction increase despite moving up market - Management attributed the increase to the value of the platform resonating well with clients and the successful onboarding of larger clients [32][34] Question: Visibility looking ahead to next year - Management confirmed high visibility and a strong backlog, similar to the previous year, indicating positive trends [36][37] Question: Who are the company replacing with new deals? - Management noted that large clients are looking for control and bespoke configurations, which Paymentus can provide, making it an attractive option [39][41] Question: Impact of four key factors driving revenue increase - Management prioritized the factors contributing to growth, with the successful launch of new billers being the largest component [42][43] Question: Sustainability of free cash flow conversion - Management emphasized strong cash flow generation due to high incremental adjusted EBITDA margins and improved DSO [45][47]

Core Insights - Amazon's AWS growth rate has reached its highest level since 2022, with a year-on-year growth rate of 20.2%, achieving an annualized run rate of $132 billion [1] - The backlog of unfulfilled contracts has reached $200 billion, not including several new contracts expected to be announced in October, which exceed the total transactions of the third quarter [1] - AWS continues to lead the market with a diverse range of services and rapid innovation, recognized as a leader by Gartner for 15 consecutive years [1] AWS Capacity and AI Investments - AWS's power capacity has doubled compared to 2022 levels and is expected to double again by 2027, with at least 1 gigawatt planned for the fourth quarter [2] - The Trainium2 chip business has seen a 150% quarter-on-quarter growth, with significant collaboration with companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Intel [2] - The company is investing heavily in AI, anticipating strong capital returns in the long term, while also enhancing its logistics network to support business growth [2] Trainium Chip Development - Trainium2 has a limited but large customer base, with a price-performance advantage of 30% to 40% over alternatives, driving demand [4] - Trainium3 is expected to be previewed by the end of this year, with mass production anticipated in early 2026, generating interest from both large and medium-sized customers [4] - The success of projects like Rainier, which utilizes Trainium2, is expected to enhance the credibility of Trainium chips among customers [6] Grocery Business Expansion - Amazon's grocery business has surpassed $100 billion in total merchandise sales over the past 12 months, positioning it among the top three grocery retailers in the U.S. [7] - The company is expanding its fresh grocery delivery service, which has already reached 1,000 cities and is expected to grow to 2,300 by the end of the year [7] - The focus is on changing consumer habits towards same-day delivery for fresh items, indicating significant potential in this area [7] Automation and Robotics - Amazon has over 1 million robots in its fulfillment network, with plans for further innovation and investment in robotics to enhance safety and productivity [8] - The company aims to create a collaborative fulfillment network where robots and humans work together, optimizing costs and improving customer experience [8] Advertising Growth - Amazon's advertising business has seen significant growth, with a comprehensive solution that includes brand awareness and sales conversion strategies [12] - The demand-side platform (DSP) has rapidly expanded, with improvements based on customer feedback, positioning it as a robust advertising tool [12] - Video advertising is also identified as a key growth area, contributing substantial revenue despite being in its early stages [12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net revenues increased by 15% overall, with Value Added Services and Solutions net revenue up 22% year-over-year on a non-GAAP currency-neutral basis [4][24] - Operating income rose by 15%, while net income and EPS increased by 8% and 11%, respectively, with EPS at $4.38, including a $0.10 contribution from share repurchases [24][25] - Worldwide gross dollar volume (GDV) grew by 9% year-over-year, with U.S. GDV increasing by 7% and international volume up by 10% [25][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Payment network net revenue increased by 10%, driven by domestic and cross-border transaction growth, while Value Added Services and Solutions net revenue increased by 22% [27][28] - Domestic assessments rose by 6%, and cross-border assessments increased by 16%, reflecting strong transaction processing [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cross-border volume increased by 15% globally, indicating continued growth in both travel and non-travel related spending [25] - Contactless penetration in Q3 stood at 77% of all in-person switched purchase transactions, up 6 percentage points from the previous year [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic priorities: consumer payments, agentic commerce, and services, aiming to unlock long-term growth [6][18] - The company is expanding its acceptance footprint across underpenetrated verticals and enhancing its product offerings, including partnerships with various banks and retailers [6][7][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a generally supportive macroeconomic environment with steady inflation and balanced labor markets, contributing to healthy consumer and business spending [4][30] - The company expects year-over-year net revenue growth to be at the high end of a low double digits range for Q4, with continued healthy consumer and business spending anticipated [31][32] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $3.3 billion worth of stock during the quarter, with an additional $1.2 billion repurchased through October 27, 2025 [25] - The company is actively pursuing M&A opportunities, focusing on strategic acquisitions that align with its growth objectives [68] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on U.S. payment volume growth and holiday spending outlook - Management indicated steady growth across affluent and mass market segments, with no significant evidence of trade-down behavior [36][37] Question: Sustainability of Value Added Services (VAS) growth - Management highlighted that VAS growth of 22% was supported by acquisitions and strong underlying demand for cybersecurity and data insights [41][46] Question: Evolution of agentic commerce and associated risks - Management discussed the complexities of agentic commerce, including legal and security considerations, and emphasized the importance of trust and safety in this evolving space [53][56] Question: New acceptance channels and M&A pipeline - Management acknowledged progress in underpenetrated verticals like rent payments and reiterated a strategy-led approach to M&A, focusing on services [63][68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated GMS for the third quarter was $2.72 billion, exceeding the top end of guidance, with a year-over-year decline of 0.9% when excluding Reverb [22][23] - Consolidated revenue grew 6.1% year over year to $678 million, with adjusted EBITDA at $172 million, representing a margin of 25.4% [23][30] - Etsy Marketplace GMS was down 2.4% year over year, but improved by 300 basis points sequentially from Q2 to Q3 [23][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Etsy Marketplace GMS declined 2.4% year over year, while Depop's GMS grew 39.4% year over year to $292 million, driven by new user growth and improved buyer conversion [10][23] - Services revenue increased by 12.7% year over year, primarily due to growth in on-site ad revenue at both Etsy and Depop [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Active buyer count was 86.6 million, down 5% year over year, but new and reactivated buyers totaled 11.4 million for the quarter, showing slight improvement [25] - GMS per active buyer remained stable at $1.21, with encouraging month-by-month improvements in purchase frequency and average item values [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on four strategic priorities: enhancing customer discovery, deepening loyalty, amplifying seller creativity, and leveraging AI for personalization [12][16] - A partnership with OpenAI aims to integrate Etsy listings into ChatGPT, enhancing the shopping experience and increasing brand consideration [13][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the consumer environment heading into the holiday season, with expectations for Q4 consolidated GMS between $3.5 billion and $3.65 billion [33][55] - The company is committed to investing in Depop's brand marketing to expand its market presence, which may compress margins in the near term but is seen as a long-term growth opportunity [34][84] Other Important Information - The company has made significant improvements in its app, with app GMS outperforming non-app GMS by 13 percentage points, indicating a positive impact from recent enhancements [16][27] - Seller satisfaction scores have increased by over 10% year over year, reflecting the effectiveness of new AI-powered tools and improved support [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: About the OpenAI partnership and its integration - Management highlighted the excitement around the OpenAI partnership, stating that Etsy listings will be included in the organic experience, with transactions processed through Etsy's payment system [38][40] Question: Engagement improvements on the app - Management discussed meaningful investments in reshaping the app's home screen to enhance discovery, leading to increased engagement metrics [44][46] Question: Fourth quarter guidance and holiday opportunities - Management provided insights on the uncertain consumer outlook for the holiday season, emphasizing the importance of their initiatives in driving sequential improvement [53][55] Question: Balancing traffic from AI platforms versus direct mobile - Management indicated that both channels can coexist and benefit Etsy, with agentic commerce expected to enhance brand consideration [78][82] Question: Investments planned for Depop - Management confirmed that the brand campaign for Depop is a long-term investment aimed at expanding awareness, which may compress margins in the short term but is expected to yield significant growth [79][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal fourth quarter net revenue grew 12% year over year to $10.7 billion, with EPS up 10%, resulting in full-year net revenue and EPS growth of 11% and 14% respectively [4][26] - Total full-year payments volume reached $14 trillion, up 8% year over year in constant dollars, and processed transactions totaled $258 billion, up 10% year over year [4][26] - Full year 2025 net revenue grew 11% to $40 billion, and EPS grew 14% to $11.47 [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer payments revenue was driven by strong payments volume, cross-border volume, and processed transaction growth [30] - Commercial and money movement solutions revenue grew 14% year over year in constant dollars, with commercial payments volume growing 10% [30] - Value-added services revenue grew 25% in constant dollars to $3 billion, driven by issuing solutions and advisory services [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total international payments volume was up 10% year over year in constant dollars in Q4, with U.S. payments volume up 8% [26][27] - Cross-border volume, excluding intra-Europe, was up 11%, with e-commerce up 13% and travel improving to 10% [26][28] - In Latin America, there was a slight deceleration in volume growth due to moderating inflation in Argentina, but the region remains high-growth overall [72] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation and building the future of payments through the Visa-as-a-Service stack, which includes foundation, services, solutions, and access layers [5][24] - Visa is enhancing its capabilities in agentic commerce, aiming to set standards and lead product development in this emerging area [50][66] - Significant investments are planned for FY26 across consumer payments, commercial solutions, and value-added services, with a focus on AI and product development [37][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of consumer spending and the strength of Visa's diversified business model as it enters FY26 [45][46] - The company anticipates continued strong performance in FY26, with adjusted net revenue growth expected in the low double digits [34][40] - Management highlighted the importance of collaboration within the ecosystem to drive the success of agentic commerce and other innovations [66][78] Other Important Information - The company bought back approximately $4.9 billion in stock and distributed $1.1 billion in dividends to shareholders in Q4 [32] - Visa's tokenization efforts have resulted in over 16 billion tokens, which are critical for secure transactions in the agentic commerce ecosystem [8][76] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about macroeconomic stability and consumer spending habits - Management noted strong momentum exiting FY25 and emphasized the diversification of Visa's business, which supports resilience in consumer spending [45][46] Question: Role of Visa in agentic commerce and expected milestones - Visa is taking a leadership role in agentic commerce, establishing standards and capabilities to facilitate transactions through agents [50][66] Question: Differences between Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol and competitors - Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol is designed to be open and easy to integrate, serving as a foundational layer for the agentic commerce ecosystem [78] Question: Holiday sales growth expectations - Management acknowledged expectations of weaker holiday sales growth but emphasized the overall strength of Visa's business model [81]