American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. The company's products and services include credit card, charge card, banking, and other payment and financing products; network services; expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services. It also provides merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, point-of-sale marketing, and information products and services for merchants; and fraud prevention services, as well as the design and operation of customer loyalty programs. In addition, the company operates lounges at airports under Centurion Lounge brand name. It sells its products and services to consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies, and large corporations through mobile and online applications, affiliate marketing, customer referral programs, third-party service providers and business partners, direct mail, telephone, in-house sales teams, and direct response advertising. American Express Company was founded in 1850 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

American Express выглядит качественным, но уже не дешёвым финансовым бизнесом: сильная рентабельность сочетается с заметной премией по мультипликаторам. P/E 20.15, P/S 2.71 и особенно P/B 7.62 находятся существенно выше медианы отрасли, что ограничивает потенциал переоценки и требует осторожности. При этом P/FCF 11.41 выглядит умеренно, а его снижение с уровней около 19–21 в прошлом году говорит о более здоровой генерации свободного денежного потока. Рентабельность капитала очень сильная: ROE 33.08%, ROA 3.69% и ROIC/ROI 12.21% стабильно высокие и почти не ухудшаются по годам, что поддерживает премиальную оценку. Дополнительный плюс — высокая валовая маржа 89.77% и устойчивый рост выручки, которая за год поднялась с 19.22 до 21.04 млрд. Чистая прибыль и операционная прибыль также выросли к последнему периоду, что подтверждает устойчивость бизнеса. С другой стороны, чистая и операционная маржа ниже отраслевых медиан, поэтому часть премии по мультипликаторам уже отражает сильные ожидания рынка. Долговая нагрузка остаётся заметной: debt/equity 1.73, долгосрочный долг 57.79 млрд и общие обязательства 265.13 млрд — это не критично для финансовой компании, но добавляет чувствительность к кредитному циклу и стоимости фондирования. Ликвидность выглядит смешанно: current ratio 1.68 поддерживает запас прочности, но quick ratio равен нулю, что типично для модели бизнеса, однако снижает комфорт в стресс-сценариях. Дивидендная доходность практически отсутствует, поэтому инвестиционный кейс строится не на доходе, а на качестве прибыли и росте. В целом фундаментал сильный, но высокая оценка и долговая нагрузка не позволяют агрессивно повышать целевую цену. Для инвестора это скорее история качественного, прибыльного и устойчивого эмитента с ограниченным апсайдом из-за уже дорогой оценки.

American Express Company

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, flat. The market is on the bulls' side.

Сильный индекс, незначительно упал. Рынок не поддерживает медведей.

Strong index, slightly down. The market does not support the bears.

Средний индекс, незначительно упал. Приток средств в лонги снизился, но остается положительным.

Medium index, slightly down. The inflow of funds into longs has decreased, but remains positive.

AXP демонстрирует высокую рентабельность и рост выручки, но торгуется с заметной премией к отрасли и несёт умеренно повышенные долговые риски.

Key Points
Realty Income has been paying a monthly dividend for more than 55 years without skipping a beat.
Home Depot is laying the groundwork for a big comeback in a less hostile operating environment.
American Express's fee-based model generates loyalty and recurring revenue.
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Three I'd start with are Realty Income (NYSE: O), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), and American Express (NYSE: AXP).
1. Realty Income
Realty Income is a real estate investment trust (REIT). It owns about 15,500 properties globally, and it's one of the largest in the world.
It has a solid growth strategy that involves buying new properties or acquiring smaller REITs, and it has access to plenty of funds to keep the model going. It also has a long pipeline of new properties to consider, with $31 billion in sourced volume in the first quarter and a 9% selectivity rate.
It's reliable for strong performance because it predominantly leases its properties to large essentials companies like Walmart, Home Depot, and 7-Eleven. These are companies that consistently have high demand and generally perform well under pressure. Almost 80% of its properties are in retail, but it has also expanded into other industries to expand its reach and reduce risk.
Realty Income has a 98.9% occupancy rate and rarely dips below that, even during times of economic pressure. It's a model that works.
As a REIT, it pays out 90% of its earnings as dividends, and its dividend is very attractive for a number of reasons. One is the yield. At the current price, Realty Income's dividend yields 5.3%. The growth and reliability are just as compelling. It's one of the few companies that pays a monthly dividend, and it has paid it for more than 55 years without fail, an unmatched track record. It has raised the dividend for the past 115 quarters, or close to 30 years.
Realty is a top dividend stock that can provide security and passive income to any investor.
2. Home Depot
Home Depot stock continues to struggle amid the high mortgage rate environment, which has been putting home sales on hold. But considering the pressured operating climate, it's reporting sales and comparable sales (comps) increases, which is an impressive feat.
In the fiscal 2026 first quarter (ended May 3), sales increased 4.8% year over year, with comps up 0.6%. Earnings per share (EPS) were down from $3.45 to $3.30.
Everything was in line with management's expectations, and the company continues to expand and lay the groundwork for more success when the macroeconomy is more favorable. It plans to open 15 new stores this year, and recently completed the acquisition of Mingledorff's, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment distributor in five Southeast U.S. states. This gives it greater access specifically to HVAC parts, and embedding this business in its enterprise leverages its powerful distribution system to create more value for its professional customers.
It's already doing that with SRS Distribution, a pro supplies company it acquired in 2024. SRS has 1,300 branches, and together with Home Depot's core 2,360 stores and 325 warehouses, it has 16,000 delivery assets.
While the stock is down, Home Depot continues to raise the dividend, and the yield is at 2.9% today.
3. American Express
American Express continues to demonstrate resilience and momentum despite stubbornly high inflation. It has a carefully crafted and maintained model that targets an affluent clientele through a fee-based rewards program, and this clientele has more spending power in any type of economy.
The fee-based model also creates loyalty and a recurring revenue stream, as well as high profitability. In the 2026 first quarter, revenue increased 11% year over year to $18.9 billion, while EPS increased 18% to $4.28. Spend growth is accelerating, up six percentage points from last year, while retention rates remain close to 100%.
The company's emphasis on travel and entertainment is a key part of its success. While U.S. consumer services spending increased 5% over last year in the first quarter, fine hotels and resorts spending increased 50%. The focus on younger consumers is also a major growth driver, with 66% of global consumer new accounts coming from millennial and Gen-Z age groups, and 73% of global new accounts on fee-based products.
With growing net income, it has ample funds to pay and raise its dividend, which yields 1.1% at the current price.
Should you buy stock in Realty Income right now?
Before you buy stock in Realty Income, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Realty Income wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,038!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,277,804!*
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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has positions in American Express and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Express, Home Depot, Realty Income, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Boring Dividend Stocks I'd Buy Instead of SpaceX Any Day

Mastercard Incorporated MA is strengthening its presence in Latin America’s fast-evolving digital payments landscape through its partnership in the launch of Mi Clip, a new digital wallet ecosystem introduced by Mexican fintech Clip. The initiative combines Clip’s merchant network, Ant International’s AI-powered technology, Mastercard’s global payment infrastructure and Televisa-Univision’s extensive media reach. The collaboration aims to accelerate digital payment adoption in Mexico, where cash continues to dominate everyday transactions despite growing financial digitization.
Mi Clip is designed to offer consumers and merchants access to digital accounts, payment services and credit solutions through a single platform. The wallet seeks to address financial inclusion challenges in Mexico, where a significant portion of adults remain outside the formal banking system. By enabling secure digital transactions and helping users establish a financial identity, the platform could encourage greater participation in the country’s digital economy while supporting small businesses that have traditionally relied on cash.
For MA, the partnership reinforces its strategy of expanding payment acceptance and interoperability across emerging markets. Through its global network spanning more than 200 countries and territories, Mastercard will provide the infrastructure needed for secure domestic and cross-border transactions. As Mi Clip scales, MA could benefit from higher payment volumes, broader merchant acceptance and deeper engagement with consumers transitioning from cash-based transactions to digital payment methods.
The partnership also reflects Mastercard’s role as a foundational infrastructure provider, enabling fintech-led innovations while extending the reach of digital payment solutions across diverse customer segments.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of MA’s competitors in the payments space include Visa Inc. V and American Express Company AXP.
Visa is expanding its role in digital wallet infrastructure through partnerships that help financial institutions launch wallet-linked payment solutions. Recently, Visa teamed up with OpenWay to enable banks, fintechs and processors across the Asia Pacific to roll out new digital payment offerings faster and with greater flexibility.
American Express continues to strengthen its digital payments ecosystem through broader wallet integrations and merchant acceptance initiatives. In March 2026, the company enabled Bradesco-issued American Express cards on Samsung Wallet in Brazil, enhancing payment convenience and strengthening its presence in digital commerce.
Mastercard’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, MA’s shares have declined 16.2% compared with the industry’s fall of 27%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.65, above the industry average of 15.91. MA carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s 2026 earnings implies 15.2% growth from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Mastercard currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Can Mastercard Benefit From the Launch of Mi Clip Wallet?

Delta Air Lines DAL continues to enhance the value of its co-branded credit card portfolio through its partnership with American Express AXP. The addition of a complimentary second checked bag for eligible Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve cardholders provides a meaningful travel benefit that can help customers reduce travel costs and improve their overall experience. These enhancements strengthen the attractiveness of the SkyMiles program and reinforce customer loyalty without increasing annual fees.
The company also expanded cardholder benefits beyond air travel by introducing a $120 annual rideshare credit for eligible Delta SkyMiles Gold cardholders. By offering value throughout the travel journey, from transportation to the airport and the flight itself. This makes Delta and American Express cards more relevant for everyday spending while encouraging greater customer engagement with the loyalty program.
Delta further supports growth in its co-branded card business through enhanced welcome offers that provide up to 125,000 bonus miles for new cardholders. These incentives should help attract new customers, encourage higher spending levels and drive broader participation in the SkyMiles ecosystem, ultimately benefiting both Delta and American Express.
Overall, Delta’s latest card enhancements underscore the strength of its partnership with American Express and its focus on delivering greater value to travelers. The combination of practical travel benefits, attractive rewards and strong customer incentives should support cardholder growth, increase loyalty and strengthen the long-term performance of its co-branded card program.
DAL’s Share Price Performance
DAL’s shares have gained 54.2% in the year-to-date compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 12.6% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DAL’s Zacks Rank
DAL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to Consider
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. EXPD and International Seaways INSW.
EXPD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Expeditors has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.9% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
INSW currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
INSW has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 33.93%.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Delta Unveils New SkyMiles Card Perks to Boost Traveler Value

Year to date, Mastercard Incorporated MA shares have declined 14.9%, trailing rival Visa Inc. V, which is down 8.9%, while American Express Company AXP has lost 15.6%. The broader industry dropped 17.5%, so MA isn't alone in the pain. In contrast, the S&P 500 has gained 8.2%, powered largely by a group of mega-cap technology names benefiting from the AI spending boom. Investors have rotated aggressively toward AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and related themes, while payment companies have largely been left behind.
The shift is not because Mastercard’s business is weakening. Instead, investors are wrestling with a growing list of concerns, including stablecoins, regulatory pressure and questions about the long-term structure of the payments ecosystem.
YTD Price Performance – MA, V, AXP, Industry & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Why Investors Are Worried
Regulation remains one of the biggest overhangs.
In the United States, the Department of Justice has accused Mastercard and Visa of using their dominant market positions to preserve elevated merchant fees. At the same time, the Credit Card Competition Act continues to attract attention. The proposal enjoys bipartisan support and backing from the White House, making it difficult for investors to ignore. Even so, the legislation has yet to gain meaningful momentum.
In June 2025, London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that Mastercard’s and Visa’s multilateral interchange fees violated European competition law. Separately, Britain’s Payment Systems Regulator is evaluating a framework that would require greater disclosure of the companies’ U.K. operations. Increased transparency could provide regulators with a clearer picture of profitability and potentially strengthen future arguments for pricing intervention.
Europe is also exploring alternatives to the traditional card model. Several U.K. banks are assessing domestic payment networks that could reduce dependence on U.S.-based card companies. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank continues to advance work on the digital euro, an initiative designed in part to lessen reliance on foreign payment infrastructure.
Then there's the stablecoin conversation. The fear here isn't that crypto replaces Mastercard tomorrow, it's that if major retailers or tech platforms eventually build large-scale payment ecosystems around digital currencies, a slice of transactions could permanently bypass card networks. It's still largely theoretical, but it's the kind of structural risk investors can't simply wave off.
Fintech competition adds another layer. Real-time payment systems are getting faster and more capable. Alternative networks keep finding ways to chip away at transaction economics. The more options merchants have, the harder it becomes for Mastercard to defend premium pricing.
The Business Keeps Delivering
Here's where the story gets interesting, because the operating results don't match the stock performance at all.
In the first quarter of 2026, Mastercard's cross-border volume jumped 13% year over year, a direct rebuttal to early fears that Middle East tensions could drag on international travel. While geopolitical risks remain, current spending trends suggest little impact so far. Gross dollar volume rose 7% on a local-currency basis to $2.7 trillion and switched transactions grew 9%. These are not the numbers of a business under structural stress.
The value-added services segment is quietly becoming a serious growth engine. Revenue there surged 22% year over year in the first quarter to $3.5 billion, driven by security, fraud prevention, digital authentication and customer analytics. As digital commerce expands and fraud risks rise globally, demand for these capabilities is likely to stay strong regardless of what happens with interchange fees.
The company is also returning substantial amounts of cash to shareholders. During the first quarter, Mastercard paid $777 million in dividends and repurchased $4 billion of stock. As of late April 2026, the company still had $11.7 billion remaining under existing repurchase authorizations after buying back an additional $1.7 billion of shares quarter to date.
Estimates Continue Moving Higher
Mastercard has also beaten earnings estimates for four consecutive quarters, with an average surprise of 5.5%. For the full year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate now sits at $19.60 per share, 15.2% growth over last year. For 2027, that number climbs to $22.65, implying another 15.6% increase. Revenue is forecast at $36.99 billion this year and $41.62 billion the next, with 12%-plus growth each year. These aren't distressed-company numbers.
Mastercard Incorporated Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
How Mastercard Is Playing Offense
Rather than treating fintech and crypto as threats to manage, Mastercard is writing itself into those stories.
On stablecoins, the company is actively expanding settlement capabilities through partnerships and blockchain infrastructure investments. The planned $1.8 billion acquisition of BVNK is designed to strengthen Mastercard's stablecoin infrastructure and expand its ability to connect blockchain-based payment rails with its global network. Management views digital assets as a complement to existing payment rails rather than a replacement for them.
On AI, Mastercard is moving through its Agent Pay initiative, which is partnered with Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and others. Nearly all Mastercard cards can now support agent-driven payments, meaning AI systems can transact autonomously on behalf of users. In the first quarter, the company launched Verifiable Intent, a tamper-resistant record of what a user authorized when an AI agent initiates a transaction. The FIDO Alliance adopted it as a foundation for emerging security standards. B2B agent payments, management notes, represent the larger long-term opportunity here.
Mastercard’s Valuation
Mastercard still commands a premium valuation, though not to the same extent as in recent years. It is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 23.20X, lower than its five-year median of 30.41X but still above the industry average of 15.83X. The discount to its historical valuation suggests investors are assigning greater weight to regulatory and competitive risks than they have in the past. In comparison, Visa trades at 22.39X and American Express at 16.71X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Bottom Line
Mastercard faces legitimate questions around regulation, stablecoins and the future of payments, but its underlying business continues to deliver. Cross-border spending remains strong, value-added services are growing rapidly, earnings estimates are moving higher, and shareholder returns remain robust. While the stock still trades at a premium to the industry, that valuation is far below historical levels.
The market right now is priced for disruption that hasn't happened and may not. But the actual business continues to do exactly what it has always done. For now, the fundamentals argue for patience over panic, which is exactly why Mastercard currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Mastercard Down 15% YTD Despite Strong Operations: Buy, Hold or Sell?

The TCW Group, a leading global investment firm, announced today that the TCW Strategic Income Fund has declared a monthly distribution of $0.0283 per share payable on June 30, 2026, to shareholders of record on June 15, 2026.
Zedge, a company that builds and operates creator communities serving 20 million monthly active users, today announced its Board of Directors approved a $2.0 million increase to the existing share repurchase authorization for its Class B common stock. This new authorization adds to the previously approved $5.0 million share repurchase authorization, under which the Company has bought back almost 1.5 million shares of its class B common stock for approximately $4.8 million as of June 4, 2026. The Board of Directors also approved payment of the Company's $0.02 quarterly dividend. The quarterly dividend is payable on June 30, 2026 to Verizon shareholders of record at the close of business on June 22, 2026.
The Board of Directors at Verizon Communications had declared a quarterly dividend of 70.75 cents per outstanding share, consistent with the prior quarter's dividend rate. The quarterly dividend is payable on August 3, 2026 to Verizon shareholders of record at the close of business on July 10, 2026.
The Board of Directors of American Express declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.95 per common share, payable on August 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on July 2, 2026.
The Board of Directors of Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, declared a quarterly dividend of $1.05 per ordinary share, or $4.20 per share annualized. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 4, 2026. Since March of 2020, Trane Technologies has raised the quarterly dividend by more than 98 percent. Trane Technologies has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends on its common shares since 1919 and annual dividends since 1910.
VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: TSI,ZDGE,VZ,AXP,TT
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Daily Dividend Report: TSI,ZDGE,VZ,AXP,TT

At the beginning of 2026, most experts were expecting at least one or two Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. Now, there's more than a 50% chance priced into the market that the Fed's next move will be a rate hike. If that happens, here are five stocks that could win.
*Stock prices used were the morning prices of June 3, 2026. The video was published on June 4, 2026.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Should you buy stock in JPMorgan Chase right now?
Before you buy stock in JPMorgan Chase, consider this:
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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $443,191!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,258,838!*
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in American Express and Bank of America. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Express, Chevron, and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab and recommends the following options: short June 2026 $97.50 calls on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Matthew Frankel is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Fed Might Raise Rates in 2026. Here Are the Stocks I'd Buy If It Does.

The Board of Directors at Verizon Communications today declared a quarterly dividend of 70.75 cents per outstanding share, consistent with the prior quarter's dividend rate. The quarterly dividend is payable on August 3, 2026 to Verizon shareholders of record at the close of business on July 10, 2026.
The Board of Directors of American Express declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.95 per common share, payable on August 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on July 2, 2026.
The Board of Directors of Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, declared a quarterly dividend of $1.05 per ordinary share, or $4.20 per share annualized. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 4, 2026. Since March of 2020, Trane Technologies has raised the quarterly dividend by more than 98 percent. Trane Technologies has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends on its common shares since 1919 and annual dividends since 1910.
Carrier Global, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 per outstanding share of Carrier common stock. The dividend will be payable on August 10, 2026 to shareowners of record at the close of business on July 21, 2026.
Douglas Dynamics, North America's premier manufacturer and upfitter of work truck attachments and equipment, today announced that its Board of Directors approved and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.295 per share for the second quarter of 2026. The declared dividend will be paid on June 30, 2026 to stockholders of record on June 16, 2026.
VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: VZ,AXP,TT,CARR,PLOW
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Daily Dividend Report: VZ,AXP,TT,CARR,PLOW

Mastercard Incorporated MA is taking another step to expand its Open Finance footprint through a strategic partnership with Xryma’s PaidBy platform. The collaboration seeks to address one of the biggest limitations of open banking payments today — their largely domestic reach. By combining MA’s connectivity and trusted network with PaidBy’s orchestration and settlement capabilities, the companies aim to create a more seamless framework for cross-border account-to-account (A2A) transactions.
The partnership could help merchants simplify international payments while reducing dependence on traditional payment rails. Consumers will be able to pay directly from their bank accounts in their local currency, while merchants can receive funds in their preferred currency with streamlined reconciliation and next-business-day settlement. These capabilities are becoming increasingly important as businesses look for faster payment processing, lower friction and improved visibility into cash flows.
Initially focused on Europe and the United Kingdom, the initiative leverages regions where open banking adoption is already gaining traction. PaidBy’s infrastructure for payment initiation, multi-currency processing and real-time settlement complements MA’s Open Finance capabilities, creating a scalable model that could support broader international expansion over time. It also positions both companies to capitalize on the growing demand for digital payment alternatives.
MA has been steadily investing in Open Finance, real-time payments and value-added services to remain relevant as payment preferences evolve. If cross-border A2A payments gain wider acceptance, the partnership could strengthen Mastercard’s ecosystem and open new avenues for growth in global commerce. The company’s cross-border volume rose 13% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of MA’s competitors in the payments space include Visa Inc. V and American Express Company AXP.
Visa has been expanding beyond its traditional card network through investments in open banking, account-to-account payments and real-time money movement. V’s acquisition of Tink strengthened its Open Finance capabilities in Europe, while Visa Direct continues to support faster domestic and cross-border fund transfers for businesses and consumers.
American Express is strengthening its position in cross-border payments by leveraging its global network and expanding services for businesses and commercial customers. AXP continues to invest in digital payment capabilities, aiming to streamline international transactions while enhancing visibility, control and settlement efficiency for clients.
Mastercard’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, MA’s shares have declined 18.3% compared with the industry’s fall of 28.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.05, above the industry average of 15.44. MA carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s 2026 earnings implies 15.2% growth from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Mastercard currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Can Mastercard Strengthen Its Open Finance Ecosystem With PaidBy?

Key Points
Warren Buffett was CEO of Berkshire Hathaway for more than 60 years.
During that time, he often bought and sold stocks.
However, there were a few years in particular when the best opportunities presented themselves.
Warren Buffett is known as one of the best investors of all time, and for good reason. In roughly 60 years as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB), Buffett generated a staggering 6,099,294% return for shareholders. That's not a typo. Berkshire's returns under Buffett's leadership were roughly 132 times what an investor would have gained in the S&P 500 in the same period.
However, Buffett's stellar performance didn't happen in a straight line. In fact, of those 60 years, Berkshire produced a negative return in 11 of them, including a decline of nearly 49% in a single year.
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Berkshire's stellar performance was not driven by how Buffett navigated bull markets. It was driven in large part by Warren Buffett's ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities when the market was in a bad state.
Only five years to get excited about?
In a recent CNBC interview, Buffett reflected on his tenure at Berkshire by saying, "We've been -- up to 60 years I've been in the business. Probably five of them really juicy."
Looking at his track record, although Berkshire gained in more years than it declined, there were some clear standouts, such as a 130% gain in 1976 and a 103% gain in 1979. But that's not what he was referring to.
Buffett's most exciting years weren't when Berkshire's stock price went up the most. In fact, Buffett is notorious for not really caring about what Berkshire's stock does over any short period.
The five years Buffett likely considers the "juiciest" are when nobody thought it was a good time to buy stocks. The most opportunistic years. He didn't specify which ones, but he's likely referring to years like the 2008 financial crisis, when Berkshire's financial flexibility allowed Buffett to scoop up shares of Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) cheaply. This period also led to the savvy acquisition of BNSF Railroad, which is now one of Berkshire's most valuable businesses.
Two that are almost certainly on Buffett's list are 1973 and 1974, when the S&P 500 lost roughly half of its value due to an oil embargo, stagflation, and other issues. The market offered many opportunities for long-term investors in these years, and Buffett has referred to his 1973 investment in Washington Post shares as one of the defining investments of his career.
Another example was 1991, when the Savings and Loan collapse and a recession caused financial stocks to drop sharply. It was at this point that Buffett started buying shares of American Express (NYSE: AXP), which remains one of Berkshire's core stock positions today.
Don't be afraid of the juicy years
As an investor who had just started a few years before the financial crisis, I can say firsthand that a 50%+ drawdown in the S&P 500 can be scary. But in retrospect, it was also the period in my investing career when the market was most full of opportunities.
Buffett once said, "Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble." In other words, when opportunities arrive, don't let your natural fear of the market's volatility cause you to tiptoe in. When one of the juicy years presents itself, keep a long-term mentality and buy top-quality businesses on sale.
Of course, Buffett didn't put money to work only in those years. He bought and sold stocks regularly throughout his career, regardless of what the economy or overall stock market was doing. But many of the moves that produced game-changing returns in Berkshire's portfolio were made when the stock market was a scary place to be.
Should you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway right now?
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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in American Express and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Express, Berkshire Hathaway, and Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Warren Buffett Has Been Investing for More Than 60 Years. Only 5 Were Worth Getting Excited About.

Key Points
Longtime Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett retired on Dec. 31, handing the proverbial keys to his protege, Greg Abel.
Abel wasted no time overhauling Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio in the first quarter.
Robust capital return programs and sustainable competitive advantages are the common denominator for these five companies.
It's been a year of eye-popping changes for Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB). It began with the retirement of longtime CEO Warren Buffett (who remains chair of the board) on Dec. 31. For the first time in well over half a century, the trillion-dollar conglomerate that the Oracle of Omaha built has a new boss, Greg Abel.
Following the filing of quarterly Form 13Fs with regulators on May 15, Wall Street and investors learned that Abel undertook a massive overhaul of Berkshire Hathaway's $330 billion investment portfolio. A total of 16 positions were sent to the chopping block, representing a third of the total holdings that Buffett had overseen in his final quarter as CEO.
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The portfolio that Warren Buffett's successor now guides is highly concentrated, with 61% of invested assets put to work in just five stocks -- one of which is a virtual monopoly.
1. Apple: $71.1 billion (21.6% of invested assets)
As has been the case for years, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is Berkshire's top holding by market value. Even though Warren Buffett sold 75% of his company's Apple stake over the nine quarters leading up to his retirement, it still accounts for nearly 22% of invested assets.
In Abel's first annual letter to shareholders, he described Apple (along with a few other holdings) as a multidecade compounder. While Apple's valuation is far from attractive -- its current price-to-earnings ratio of 38 is a clear historical premium -- Abel's letter sets the tone that Apple stock will be a fixture for some time to come.
Buffett's favorite aspect of Apple was, arguably, its market-leading share buyback program. Since initiating a repurchase program in 2013, Apple has spent roughly $853 billion to reduce its outstanding share count by more than 44%. This had an undeniably positive impact on its earnings per share.
However, Abel may favor Apple due to its artificial intelligence (AI) integration. The incorporation of Apple Intelligence into its physical devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac) can boost sales and enhance its already impressive customer loyalty.
2. American Express: $48 billion (14.6% of invested assets)
When taking the baton from Buffett, Abel vowed to follow in his footsteps in several respects. This includes not touching the companies the Oracle of Omaha referred to as "indefinite" holdings. Credit-services provider American Express (NYSE: AXP), which has been continuously held since 1991, is one of these forever stocks.
The beautiful thing about Amex's operating model is its ability to double-dip on both sides of the register. In addition to being the No. 3 payment processor by credit card network purchasing volume in the U.S., thereby collecting merchant fees, American Express is also a lender. Personal and business credit cards enable Amex to collect annual fees and interest income.
American Express has a knack for attracting high earners, as well. The well-to-do are less likely to alter their spending habits or to miss payments during economic hiccups.
But maybe the best aspect of holding Amex stock after 35 years is the jaw-dropping yield on cost. Amex's $3.80/share annual dividend, compared to Berkshire's roughly $8.49/share cost basis in Amex stock, works out to an annual yield on cost of almost 45%!
3. Coca-Cola: $31.6 billion (9.6% of invested assets)
Another Buffett-labeled indefinite holding that's not going anywhere under Abel's watch is beverage behemoth Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). This is Berkshire's longest continuous holding (since 1988).
Coca-Cola is practically unrivaled in terms of geographic diversity. With the exception of North Korea, Cuba, and Russia, it has active operations in every other country. This allows it to take advantage of meaningful organic growth opportunities in emerging markets, while still netting predictable operating cash flow in developed countries.
Furthermore, Coca-Cola has done an exceptional job of connecting with and engaging its customers. Having more than 100 years of history in its sails helps it connect with more mature audiences, while AI-driven ads can tailor individual messages to younger consumers.
Plus, if you thought Amex's annual yield on cost was impressive, you'll love Coca-Cola, which has increased its dividend for 64 consecutive years. Coke's $2.12/share annual dividend, and Berkshire's cost basis of approximately $3.25/share for Coca-Cola, equate to an annual yield on cost of 65%!
4. Bank of America: $26.5 billion (8% of invested assets)
Similar to Apple, Warren Buffett was a persistent seller of Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) shares in the lead-up to his retirement. He disposed of 50% of his company's stake in BofA (as Bank of America is commonly known) through Dec. 31, 2025, with Abel continuing to sell shares (albeit modestly) in the first quarter.
Bank stocks were always a favorite of Buffett due to their cyclical ties. Though it's impossible to predict when economic downturns will begin, history has shown that periods of expansion last substantially longer than recessions. The nonlinear nature of economic cycles favors financial institutions.
Bank of America was also perfectly positioned to take advantage of the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes from May 2022 through July 2023. BofA is the most interest-sensitive of America's money-center banks. In other words, higher interest rates boosted its net interest income more than other big banks.
However, BofA's value proposition isn't what it used to be. When Buffett first invested in BofA preferred stock in August 2011, its common stock was trading at a 62% discount to book value. By the start of 2026, Bank of America's shares were valued at a 43% premium to book.
5. Alphabet: $22 billion (6.7% of invested assets, both share classes combined)
Lastly, Berkshire Hathaway's new look portfolio under Greg Abel more than tripled its stake in Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG) during the first quarter. The 36,403,656 Class A shares (GOOGL) and 3,585,215 Class C shares (GOOG) purchased collectively vaulted Alphabet to Berkshire's fifth-largest holding.
Abel, like his predecessor, appreciates businesses with sustainable moats. Alphabet offers a virtual monopoly through Google. Data from GlobalStats shows that Google has accounted for 89% to 93% of worldwide internet search engine traffic over the last decade. This, along with its ownership of streaming platform YouTube, yields substantial ad-pricing power.
But the bulk of Alphabet's long-term growth potential is tied to its cloud infrastructure services platform, Google Cloud. Integrating generative AI solutions and large language model capabilities into Google Cloud has rapidly accelerated sales growth for this margin-rich segment.
Alphabet's balance sheet is another selling point. It closed out March with close to $127 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, and generated nearly $46 billion in cash from operations in the first quarter of 2026. This is a recipe for robust shareholder returns.
Should you buy stock in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,632!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,316,532!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 959% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 5, 2026.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet and Bank of America. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, American Express, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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