Visa Inc. operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. The company also provides acceptance solutions, which include Cybersource that provides modular and value-added services for connecting merchants to payment processing; risk and identity solutions, such as Visa Advanced Authorization, Visa Secure, Visa Risk and Decision Manager, Visa Consumer Authentication Service, and payment-decisioning solutions for fraud prevention; and Visa Consulting and Analytics, a payment consulting advisory services. It provides its services under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink, V PAY, and PLUS brand names. The company serves merchants, financial institutions, and government entities. Visa Inc. was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Visa looks like a high-quality business with very strong profitability, but the market is already pricing in an almost perfect scenario. A net profit margin of 51.68%, an operating margin of 61.12%, ROE of 58.90%, ROA of 22.72%, and ROI of 38.30% are outstanding levels, well above the industry median, and they confirm the resilient economics of the payments platform. Revenue, operating profit, and net profit are all growing year over year, which supports the fundamental valuation and indicates continued demand for the company’s services. EPS is also high and continues to rise, while the forecast EPS of 3.23 points to sustained earnings in the near term. At the same time, valuation multiples remain very expensive: P/E of 33.76, P/S of 17.50, P/B of 18.24, and P/FCF of 35.51 are significantly above industry medians, which limits the potential for further multiple expansion. For an investor, this means that the strong operating performance is already largely reflected in the share price, and the room for re-rating is limited. The debt burden is moderate, but debt/equity has risen to 0.63, and long-term debt has increased to 22.42 billion, which adds some caution in the context of a high valuation. Liquidity does not look problematic, but the quick ratio is zero and the current ratio is only slightly above 1, so working-capital buffer is not a strong point. The dividend yield of 0.21% remains very low, so the dividend factor does little to support the investment case. Overall, the company’s fundamentals are excellent, but precisely because of the premium multiples and the lack of a meaningful dividend cushion, the valuation looks more fair with a slight risk of compression than undervalued. For a long-term investor, this is a high-quality defensive asset, but entering at current levels requires discipline regarding return expectations.

Visa Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Strong index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

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

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Рынок не поддерживает медведей.

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

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly up. Inflow of funds into longs at a high level.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Отток средств из шортов на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly down. Outflow of funds from shorts at a high level.

Visa demonstrates outstanding profitability and earnings growth, but trades at very high multiples, so its upside potential is limited.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Galaxy Digital Inc (Symbol: GLXY), where a total volume of 34,546 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 3.5 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 55.4% of GLXY's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $30 strike call option expiring August 21, 2026, with 8,910 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 891,000 underlying shares of GLXY. Below is a chart showing GLXY's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $30 strike highlighted in orange:
Visa Inc (Symbol: V) saw options trading volume of 43,584 contracts, representing approximately 4.4 million underlying shares or approximately 55.2% of V's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 7.9 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $320 strike put option expiring September 18, 2026, with 1,883 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 188,300 underlying shares of V. Below is a chart showing V's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $320 strike highlighted in orange:
And IREN Ltd (Symbol: IREN) saw options trading volume of 239,780 contracts, representing approximately 24.0 million underlying shares or approximately 55% of IREN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 43.6 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $23 strike put option expiring July 31, 2026, with 12,322 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.2 million underlying shares of IREN. Below is a chart showing IREN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $23 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for GLXY options, V options, or IREN options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further GLXY Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Wednesday Option Activity: GLXY, V, IREN

Key Points
Novartis is expertly handling massive patent cliffs, which speaks volumes about how resilient its business is.
Abbott Laboratories has attractive long-term opportunities within its core medical device market.
Visa's large ecosystem can enable it to tap into lucrative growth opportunities and fend off competitive threats.
Dividend investing is a proven way to earn superior returns over long periods. That's because companies that can consistently pay -- and raise -- dividends tend to have strong underlying businesses, and reinvesting dividends unleashes the power of compounding, significantly boosting long-term returns. Of course, not just any corporation that happens to pay dividends is worth investing in. Let's consider three that are: Novartis (NYSE: NVS), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), and Visa (NYSE: V). All three of these stocks have what it takes to sustain consistent payout growth over the long term. Let me explain.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
1. Novartis
At first glance, it looks like Novartis' business is struggling. In the second quarter, the company's net sales increased by just 3% year over year to $14.4 billion, while its adjusted earnings per share remained essentially flat at $2.40. However, a little bit of context helps. Novartis recently lost patent exclusivity for several products, including Entresto, a heart failure medicine. According to management, the company is going through the biggest patent expiry in its history. Novartis' financial results look rather strong considering, and the company owes that to several newer products that are helping push sales in the right direction. The list includes Kesimpta, a multiple sclerosis drug, and Fabhalta, a medicine for a rare blood disease called paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, among others.
Novartis' ability to navigate patent cliffs the way it is doing speaks volumes about the strength of its underlying business, and the company also boasts a deep pipeline that will help it continuously develop and launch brand-new products. Novartis should perform well over the long run thanks to its innovative capabilities and the consistent demand for its products, regardless of economic conditions. Then, there is the dividend. Novartis has increased its payouts for 29 consecutive years and currently offers a forward yield of 3%, well above the S&P 500's average of 1.1%. Novartis is a great long-term option for income seekers.
2. Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories has faced slowing sales growth and regulatory problems in recent years. The stock has significantly lagged broader equities over the past half-decade. However, there is still a lot to like about the healthcare giant. Abbott's core medical device segment is performing well, largely thanks to its diabetes care business, which sells continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. Abbott's FreeStyle Libre franchise is a leading family of CGMs indicated for diabetes patients, but the company has expanded beyond its core target market in recent years by launching over-the-counter CGM devices that even people without diabetes can use.
There is still a large available opportunity in CGM, and several of the company's other segments, including structural heart and heart failure -- where it markets some devices that are among the leaders in their niches -- also boast strong prospects. Further, Abbott Laboratories has improved its diagnostics unit, which hasn't performed well organically lately, thanks to an acquisition that has given it a stronger foothold in the cancer diagnostics market. Abbott should succeed in turning things around in the long run while keeping its dividend program intact. The company is a Dividend King, or a corporation with at least 50 consecutive annual payout increases. Abbott is highly unlikely to end that streak anytime soon.
3. Visa
Visa is facing legal problems. The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the company for alleged antitrust practices. Visa is also facing increased competition, including from buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) providers that allow customers to bypass traditional credit cards. However, Visa's business remains healthy, with revenue and earnings still growing at a good clip. Just as important, Visa can adapt to the changing landscape in its industry. For instance, the company has integrated BNPL capabilities into its ecosystem. One of Visa's greatest advantages is its vast network. The company boasts billions of cards in circulation. It also benefits from a network effect: The more customers there are with cards bearing its logo, the more attractive its ecosystem is to merchants.
That's why it's so hard to knock Visa off its pedestal, while it's not nearly as challenging for the company to reach a vast number of customers with new BNPL or other offerings. Visa also has a large untapped market that will only expand, especially as e-commerce -- where digital payment methods are necessary -- becomes increasingly popular. Lastly, Visa is an attractive dividend stock. The company has increased its payouts every year since it became a publicly traded company in 2008. Even with legal issues (antitrust lawsuits rarely have catastrophic consequences for companies as large as Visa) and competition, Visa could deliver superior long-term returns while consistently raising its dividends.
Should you buy stock in Novartis right now?
Before you buy stock in Novartis, 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 Novartis 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 $390,394!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,209,184!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 899% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% 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 July 29, 2026.
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Visa. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories and Visa. 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 Dividend Stocks to Buy for a Lifetime of Passive Income

Visa Inc. V delivered third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.32 per share, up 11% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.8%.
Net revenues came in at $11.63 billion, rising 14% year over year and topping the consensus mark by 2.3%.
The strong quarterly results reflected resilient spending trends, higher cross-border volumes and solid network activity, including a 10% year-over-year increase in payments volume on a constant-dollar basis. However, the upside was partly offset by increased operating expenses.
Visa Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Visa’s Q3 Highlights
On a constant-dollar basis, cross-border volume increased 13% year over year, reflecting steady travel and e-commerce activity. Excluding transactions within Europe, cross-border volume rose 12% in constant dollars.
Network throughput also improved. Total processed transactions were 71.7 billion for the June quarter, marking a 10% year-over-year increase.
Adjusted operating expenses were $3.88 billion, up 17% year over year. It came a bit higher than our estimate of $3.83 billion. Higher personnel costs of $2.46 billion and marketing expenses of $649 million were notable contributors, alongside general and administrative expenses of $503 million. The litigation provision totaled $253 million in the quarter, down sharply from $615 million a year ago.
V’s Segment Performance
Service revenues increased 14% year over year to $4.92 billion and beat our model estimate of $4.89 billion, supported by expanding payment volumes. Data processing revenues climbed 17% to $6.04 billion and surpassed our estimate of $5.94 billion, pointing to healthy growth in transactions processed across Visa’s network.
International transaction revenues rose 6% to $3.85 billion and beat our model estimate of $3.83 billion, while other revenues advanced 45% to $1.50 billion, topping our estimate of $1.21 billion. Offsetting a portion of these gains, client incentives, recorded as a contra-revenue item, increased 18% to $4.68 billion. It came in higher than our estimate of $4.51 billion.
Visa Returns Capital Aggressively
Visa continued to emphasize shareholder returns. During the quarter, the company repurchased $4.9 billion of Class A shares and paid $1.3 billion in dividends, totaling $6.2 billion returned to its shareholders. The company had leftover authorized funds of $28.4 billion under its repurchase program as of June 30, 2026.
Cash generation remained solid. Free cash flow was $6.1 billion in the quarter, after $417 million of capital expenditures. Visa ended June 30, 2026, with $13.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investment securities. Its long-term debt amounted to $20.9 billion, up from $19.6 billion at fiscal 2025-end. Current maturities of debt were at $3 billion.
V Outlines Strong Growth Targets Ahead
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Visa expects adjusted net revenue growth in the low-double-digit to low-teens range and operating expense growth in the high-end of low-double-digit while projecting adjusted earnings per share growth in the mid-teens range.
For fiscal 2026, the company now anticipates adjusted net revenue growth in the low-end of the mid-teens range and operating expense growth in the mid-teens range. Adjusted earnings per share are still expected to grow in the mid-teens.
V’s Zacks Rank
Visa currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
How Are Visa’s Peers Placed This Quarter?
Major rival Mastercard Incorporated MA is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted earnings is pegged at $4.77 per share, indicating 14.9% year-over-year growth. The same for revenues is pegged at $9.1 billion, signaling an 11.4% increase. MA beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 5.5%.
American Express Company AXP reported second-quarter 2026 EPS of $4.53, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.7%. The bottom line advanced 11% year over year. Total revenues, net of interest expense, improved 10% year over year to $19.6 billion. AXP’s quarterly results were driven by increased Card Member spending, higher net interest income and improved card fee growth. However, the upside was partly offset by elevated operating expenses.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
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.

Visa Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Cross-Border Volume Strength

Visa (V) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.32 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.23 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.98 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.79%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this global payments processor would post earnings of $3.09 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.31, delivering a surprise of +7.12%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Visa, which belongs to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry, posted revenues of $11.63 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.28%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $10.17 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Visa shares have added about 3.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.3%.
What's Next for Visa?
While Visa has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Visa was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.45 on $12.04 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $13.12 on $45.44 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial Transaction Services is currently in the bottom 42% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 4.
This banking and payment technologies company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.47 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +8.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
Fidelity National Information Services' revenues are expected to be $3.38 billion, up 29.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in Visa Inc. (V)?
Before you invest in Visa Inc. (V), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
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.

Visa (V) Surpasses Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

(RTTNews) - Visa Inc. (V) released earnings for its third quarter that Increases, from the same period last year
The company's earnings came in at $5.628 billion, or $2.97 per share. This compares with $5.272 billion, or $2.69 per share, last year.
Excluding items, Visa Inc. reported adjusted earnings of $6.296 billion or $3.32 per share for the period.
The company's revenue for the period rose 14.4% to $11.633 billion from $10.172 billion last year.
Visa Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $5.628 Bln. vs. $5.272 Bln. last year. -EPS: $2.97 vs. $2.69 last year. -Revenue: $11.633 Bln vs. $10.172 Bln last year.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Visa Inc. Q3 Profit Climbs

Key Points
JPMorgan Chase enjoyed robust growth in the second quarter, driven by a strong bull market.
CEO Jamie Dimon noted that while things are almost as good as they get, the foundation is on moving "tectonic plates."
Investors should be prepared for any eventuality with a well-diversified portfolio.
The second quarter was a hot one for bank stocks. The largest ones benefited from major investment banking moves, and nearly all of them enjoyed robust consumer activity.
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), specifically, had a record quarter across metrics, and its stock is hitting record highs as a result. However, CEO Jamie Dimon warned of several risks in the economy, and smart investors should listen carefully.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
Records across the board
JPMorgan Chase is the largest bank in the U.S. by far, with more than $4 trillion in assets. Its performance at a given time is a valid reflection of broader economic and banking trends. It's also well diversified between commercial and consumer banking, whereas other banks lean toward one or the other. This gives JPMorgan Chase particular insight into both sides of the banking coin.
In Q2 2026, revenue increased 27% year over year, surpassing expectations, to reach a record $58 billion, and net income was up 41% to $21.2 billion. Both of these figures include "significant items" related to an investment in Visa, without which they would be a lot lower.
The performance was driven by a 45% increase in investment banking revenue. The bank was involved in the Space Exploration Technologies initial public offering, and its equities division profited from a robust bull market. In Q2, the S&P 500 gained almost 15%. However, consumer and community banking revenue was also up a solid 8%.
Is there danger on the horizon?
Dimon generally takes a practical approach to growth and doesn't shy away from calling out potential risks. "It's getting close to as good as it gets," he acknowledged. "We just don't know how long it's going to last."
In that vein, he warned of future volatility. "Several risks are shifting below the surface like tectonic plates, including geopolitical tensions and wars, sticky inflation, large global fiscal deficits, and elevated asset prices," he noted in his shareholder's letter.
While he pointed out that artificial intelligence (AI) spend is driving economic growth, he cautioned about what could happen next. "We cannot predict how these forces will ultimately play out," he said. "They may remain manageable, but they could also cause meaningful disruptions when they shift or collide."
Ultimately, investors should handle this like any other time, since the future is always uncertain. You should be prepared for any eventuality with a well-diversified portfolio of around 50 stocks of all classes and categories. If you anticipate a coming correction, you might want to reshuffle your portfolio to have more safe stocks and dividend stocks, which can provide protection while you gain from growth and AI stocks.
Should you buy stock in JPMorgan Chase right now?
Before you buy stock in JPMorgan Chase, 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 JPMorgan Chase 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 $379,662!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,206,116!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 886% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% 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 July 28, 2026.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Visa. 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.

JPMorgan's Record Quarter Came as Jamie Dimon Warned of "Tectonic" Risks Below the Surface

This is a big week in the second quarter earnings season as over 700 companies are expected to report earnings, including many S&P 500 companies. That includes four of the Magnificent 7 stocks: Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, and Meta Platforms.
But what if the Mag 7 companies report earnings and no one cares? Attention is now routinely turning to other companies outside of the trillion-dollar market cap companies. That’s true this week as well.
Big Week for Earnings in Every Industry
Every industry will be reporting this week including key restaurants like Chipotle, Wingstop and Starbucks, financials such as Visa and Mastercard, important AI infrastructure companies like Vertiv and MasTec, lots of auto retailers like Carvana and Lithia Motors, gold miners like Eldorado and Kinross, and shoe retailers including Crocs, Boot Barn and Steve Madden.
It’s difficult to narrow it down to just five companies but these are the must-watch earnings reports this week.
5 Top Earnings Charts to Watch This Week
1. Visa Inc. (V)
Visa is the ultimate earnings all-star. It has never missed on earnings since its 2008 IPO. That’s an incredible record that will stand for many years.
Shares of Visa are up 8% in the last month but only 2.9% over the last year. Earnings are expected to rise 14.4% this year and another 13.4% next year. Visa trades with a forward P/E of 27.
Visa is trading near its all-time high, even as it seems to be treading water. Is it ready to break out again?
2. Lam Research Corp. (LRCX)
Lam Research is an earnings all-star. It has only missed once on earnings in the last five years and it was in 2022. That is an incredible track record.
Earnings are expected to jump 37.2% this year and another 39.3% in 2027. But shares of Lam Research have sold off. It’s now down 30.5% in the last month but was down “only” 17.2% when the video was recorded on July 27, 2026. Lam Research is still up 167% over the last year.
Lam Research now trades with a forward P/E of 36.7. It did trade in the 40s just a month ago.
Is Lam Research on sale?
3. Starbucks Corp. (SBUX)
Starbucks is in the middle of a corporate turnaround. It beat on earnings last quarter after having missed four quarters in a row prior to that. CEO Brian Niccol has been at the helm since 2024. Expectations are growing regarding the turnaround.
Earnings are expected to rise 13.2% in 2026 after falling 35.6% in 2025. Shares of Starbucks are up 10.2% in the last year. It’s not cheap, however. Starbucks trades with a forward P/E of 42.8.
Will the Starbucks turnaround gain momentum this year?
4. Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD)
Robinhood is coming off of an earnings miss last quarter, after beating on earnings 5 quarters in a row prior to that miss.
Earnings are expected to decline 9.3% this year but rebound 39.8% in 2027. Shares of Robinhood have struggled in the last year, falling 6.9% in that time. It’s not cheap, though. Robinhood trades with a forward P/E of 51.
Will Robinhood get back on track with an earnings beat this quarter?
5. MasTec, Inc. (MTZ)
MasTec has only missed once on earnings in five years and that was in 2023. That’s impressive. MasTec is an AI Revolution stock as it’s building the data centers.
Earnings are expected to jump 46.3% this year and another 52% in 2027. Shares of MasTec soared over the last year but have plunged 20% in the prior month as investors have sold the AI Revolution stocks.
MasTec is now trading with a forward P/E of 35.
Is MasTec on sale?
[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of SBUX in her personal portfolio.]
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See 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
MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Forget the Mag 7. Watch These 5 Top Earnings Charts Instead

The following companies are expected to report earnings after hours on 07/28/2026. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Visa Inc. (V)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The financial transactions company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 11 analysts that follow the stock is $3.23. This value represents a 8.39% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year V has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 7.12%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for V is 27.63 vs. an industry ratio of 25.00, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
KLA Corporation (KLAC)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The electrical instrument company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 7 analysts that follow the stock is $1.00. This value represents a 6.38% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year KLAC has met analyst expectations once and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for KLAC is 54.81 vs. an industry ratio of 14.50, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (STX)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The computer company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $4.89. This value represents a 108.97% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year STX has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 20.25%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for STX is 57.78 vs. an industry ratio of 20.40, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Waste Management, Inc. (WM)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The waste removal company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 9 analysts that follow the stock is $1.99. This value represents a 3.65% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for WM is 29.15 vs. an industry ratio of 21.90, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The food company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $0.67. This value represents a 8.22% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year MDLZ has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 9.84%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for MDLZ is 19.96 vs. an industry ratio of 2.70, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The semiconductor company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $3.20. This value represents a 38.53% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year NXPI has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 0.38%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for NXPI is 19.89 vs. an industry ratio of 81.50.
Ford Motor Company (F)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The auto (domestic) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $0.33. This value represents a 10.81% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. F missed the consensus earnings per share in the 4th calendar quarter of 2025 by -23.53%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for F is 9.06 vs. an industry ratio of 32.60.
Bloom Energy Corporation (BE)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The alternative energy company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 3 analysts that follow the stock is $0.23. This value represents a 866.67% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year BE has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 1400%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for BE is 131.59 vs. an industry ratio of 18.80, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Teradyne, Inc. (TER)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The electrical instrument company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $2.04. This value represents a 257.89% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year TER has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 21.33%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for TER is 46.50 vs. an industry ratio of 14.50, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The insurance (property & casualty) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $2.49. This value represents a 3.49% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year ACGL has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 2.04%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for ACGL is 11.12 vs. an industry ratio of 9.90, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The reit company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $2.06. This value represents a 0.49% increase compared to the same quarter last year. EXR missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2025 by -0.49%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for EXR is 17.95 vs. an industry ratio of 14.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The electric power utilities company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $0.49. This value represents a 5.77% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year FE has met analyst expectations once and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for FE is 18.07 vs. an industry ratio of 19.20.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

After-Hours Earnings Report for July 28, 2026 : V, KLAC, STX, WM, MDLZ, NXPI, F, BE, TER, ACGL, EXR, FE

Payments giant Mastercard Incorporated MA is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $4.77 per share on revenues of $9.06 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate witnessed three upward revisions and one downward movement over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates an increase of 14.9% from the year-ago reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 11.4%.
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s revenues is pegged at $37 billion, implying a rise of 12.8% year over year. Also, the consensus mark for 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $19.63, implying a jump of 15.4% on a year-over-year basis.
Mastercardhas a robust history of surpassing earnings estimates, beating the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 5.5%. This is depicted in the figure below.
Mastercard Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise
Q2 Earnings Whispers for Mastercard
Our proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for the company this time around as well. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is precisely the case here.
MA has an Earnings ESP of +0.39% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
What’s Shaping Mastercard’s Q2 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s total Gross Dollar Volume (GDV) for all MA-branded programs suggests a 9.4% rise from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure. GDV from domestic operations is expected to increase 4.9% year over year and 14.7% from European operations.
Switched transactions are expected to have experienced an upsurge, driven by resilient consumer spending and increased contactless acceptance initiatives pursued by the company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its switched transactions indicates a 9% rise from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure. Other companies like Visa Inc. V and American Express Company AXP also have benefited from resilient spending in the June quarter.
Increasing cross-border travel is expected to have had a positive impact on Mastercard's cross-border volumes. As such, the consensus estimate for cross-border assessments suggests an increase of 12.1% compared with the previous year. Further, the consensus mark implies domestic assessments and transaction processing assessments to witness a 9.3% and 11.6% year-over-year increase, respectively.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Value-added Services and Solutions net revenues indicates 18.3% year-over-year growth, while our model estimate suggests a 19.4% increase in the second quarter. Growing demand for its consulting and marketing services and loyalty solutions is likely to have driven this metric.
The above-mentioned factors are expected to have positioned the company not only for year-over-year growth but also for a likely earnings beat. The positives are expected to have been partially offset by rising expenses, rebates and incentives.
Mastercard’s adjusted operating costs are likely to have increased in the second quarter due to higher G&A costs and Advertising & Marketing expenses. We expect total adjusted operating expenses to rise more than 11% from the prior-year quarter’s actuals. Furthermore, our estimate for payments network rebates and incentives suggests a nearly 15% year-over-year increase.
Mastercard’s Price Performance & Valuation
Over the year-to-date period, Mastercard has declined 3.4%, while Visa has gained 3.4%, and American Express has slipped 9.3%. All of these stocks underperformed theS&P 500 Index’s 7.6% growth. The industry hasdeclined 9.3% during this time.
YTD Price Performance – MA, V, AXP, Industry & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Now, let’s look at the value Mastercardoffers investors at current levels.
The company’s valuation looks stretched compared with the industry average, despite the declines. Currently, Mastercardis trading at 25.81X forward 12-month earnings, above the industry’s 18.64X. In comparison, both Visa and American Express offer better value at the moment, trading at a forward P/E of 24.88X and 17.53X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Should You Play Mastercard Ahead of Q2 Earnings?
Mastercard enters its second-quarter report with several positives working in its favor. Consumer spending has remained resilient, cross-border travel continues to support high-margin payment volumes, and the company's value-added services business is expanding at a healthy pace. The positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 also point to the possibility of another earnings beat, consistent with its strong track record over the past four quarters.
That said, much of the company's long-term strength is already reflected in its valuation. Mastercard trades at a premium to both its industry and key peers, leaving less room for disappointment if management's outlook falls short of expectations. Investors should also keep an eye on regulatory developments and the evolving competitive landscape, even though neither appears likely to alter the company's long-term trajectory in the near future.
Overall, Mastercard remains one of the highest-quality businesses in the payments industry, backed by durable secular growth drivers and ongoing investments in AI, stablecoins and value-added services. As such, existing investors have reasons to stay invested, while new investors may find it prudent to wait for the earnings release or a more attractive entry point before building a position.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See 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 Nears Q2 Earnings With Beat Potential, but Should You Buy?

(RTTNews) - Tuesday, Visa Inc. (V) intends to lay off 7 percent of its workforce, or roughly 2,600 jobs, mainly in its technology and product divisions, a company spokesperson stated.
In a staff memo seen by Bloomberg, Chief Executive Officer Ryan McInerney stated that the layoffs are expected to make the payments company more efficient in the AI era and stay ahead of its competitors.
"I have deep conviction that we are doing what is right for Visa, our clients and our partners as we continue to focus on driving efficiency across the company in order to reinvest in our highest potential opportunities," McInerney wrote, Bloomberg reports.
As per the company's 2025 annual report, Visa had around 34,100 employees, up 8 percent from the previous year.
"As a result of the choices we have made over the past few years, we are entering a new era in commerce with a business that has real momentum," McInerney said in the memo. "We see this in our continued strong financial results, client satisfaction, employee engagement, and breakthrough innovation as we build and ship products better and faster than ever before."
A person familiar with the matter stated that AI was not the only factor behind the job cuts. The company also plans to reinvest in consumer payments, commercial and money movement solutions, and value-added services, including stablecoin, cross-border, and business-to-business offerings, the person added, Bloomberg notes.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Visa Inc.

Sign up and unlock all the capabilities of the AI-screener