Core Insights - Mastercard's shares have increased by 12.7% over the past three months, outperforming Visa and the broader industry, which rose by 9.2% and 10.1% respectively, while American Express surged by 28.4% [2][7] - The company is navigating significant legal and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning interchange and network fees, which are critical to its revenue model [5][6] - Mastercard is proactively integrating stablecoins into its payment ecosystem, aiming to enhance transaction efficiency while maintaining its competitive edge [9][10] Regulatory and Competitive Landscape - Recent rulings in the U.K. have deemed Mastercard and Visa's interchange fees as violations of European competition laws, potentially leading to regulatory caps [5] - In the U.S., the Department of Justice has accused Mastercard and Visa of overcharging merchants, with proposed legislation that could disrupt Mastercard's pricing power [6] - The company faces increasing competition from fintechs and major retailers exploring alternative payment systems, including stablecoin-based solutions [8] Financial Performance and Growth Drivers - Mastercard's forward P/E ratio stands at 32.32X, above the industry average of 22.87X, indicating strong investor confidence [12] - The company's Value-Added Services have seen revenue growth of 17.7% in 2023, with continued growth projected for 2024 and 2025 [15] - In Q1 2025, Mastercard generated $2.4 billion in operating cash flow, up from $1.7 billion a year ago, and repurchased shares worth $2.5 billion [16] Future Outlook - Analyst estimates suggest EPS growth of 9.5% in 2025 and 16.6% in 2026, with revenue growth expected at 13.1% and 11.9% respectively [17] - The company has consistently outperformed earnings expectations, with an average earnings surprise of 3.7% over the last four quarters [17] - Mastercard's ability to innovate and adapt to market changes positions it favorably for long-term growth despite current challenges [18][19]

机构：中银国际 研究员：Lawrence LAU/Rainey DAI The earnings of China Gas edged up 2% only to HK$3,252m in FY25, 21% below our forecast. Almost all segments showed lower-than- expected earnings. Looking ahead, we now look at 13% YoY growth in earnings in FY26 mainly on improvement in dollar margin and slight growth in gas sales volume. We cut our FY26-27 earnings forecasts by 14-15%. We downgrade our call to HOLD as we see limited upside. Key Factors for Rating The main cause for the big earnings miss was the lower-tha ...