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 Inc. демонстрирует сильные финансовые показатели, с высоким уровнем рентабельности, что подтверждается ROE и ROA, значительно превышающими медианные значения отрасли. Однако мультипликаторы, такие как P/E и P/S, находятся на уровне, значительно превышающем отраслевые показатели, что может указывать на переоцененность акций. В то же время, уровень долга относительно собственного капитала остается на приемлемом уровне, хотя динамика долговой нагрузки требует внимания. Дивидендная доходность стабильна, но не демонстрирует роста, что может вызвать интерес у инвесторов. В целом, несмотря на сильные операционные результаты, высокая оценка на основе мультипликаторов может ограничить потенциал роста акций в краткосрочной перспективе.

Visa Inc.

Key Points
Procter & Gamble’s product portfolio consists of goods the world buys over and over, usually without a second thought.
Nice may be an AI company, but its risk profile is considerably different than that of most of the industry’s other stocks.
Contrary to common assumptions, Berkshire Hathaway isn’t just a bunch of Buffett-picked stocks. It wholly owns a bunch of privately-held cash cows, too.
Mostly thanks to overvalued AI equities, the market was already struggling to make any forward progress. With the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) making a series of lower highs and lower lows since late January, however, it seems stocks are outright succumbing to worries that the conflict in the Middle East will escalate, threatening the global economy as a result.
The matter isn't quite as black and white as that, though. If you look closely, you'll sense a growing "risk-off" attitude is at work, paired with subtly rekindled interest in safety and certainty.
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 »
With that as the backdrop, although they've not made major gains just yet, here's a rundown of three safe stocks investors could soon flock to as the prevailing mindset shifts away from risk tolerance to risk aversion.
1. Procter & Gamble
It's such a commonly suggested defensive pick that it's almost become a cliché. Nevertheless, Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) offers the sort of certainty that could become monumentally important if most everything else continues unraveling.
You've heard of the company, but are you truly aware of how many leading brands are in this consumer staples giant's family of products? Pampers diapers, Tide laundry detergent, Charmin toilet paper, Gillette razors, Dawn dishwashing liquid, and Crest toothpaste are just a small sampling of what's in P&G's portfolio. While Procter must work hard to remain competitive, it's got the advantage of working with many of the best-known brands in several key categories of goods that consumers continue buying regardless of trouble here or abroad.
Yes, this company's fiscal Q2 revenue missed estimates. Although per-share profits of $1.88 were up from the year-ago comparison of $1.78 as well as better than estimates of $1.86 per share, flat revenue of $22.21 billion fell short of the $22.28 billion that analysts were expecting. Investors were caught a bit off guard.
Just don't read too much into last quarter's numbers. As CFO Andre Schulten commented during the earnings conference call, "We've now completed what we fully expect will be the softest quarter of the fiscal year." That's the chief reason PG stock actually rallied immediately following the revenue shortfall.
The recent pullback is mostly just in response to the fresh conflict with Iran. But Procter's household goods are largely unimpacted by this geopolitical tension as it stands right now. This dip simply further de-risks ownership of this name.
2. Nice
Given that it's an artificial intelligence company, it would be easy to assume Nice (NASDAQ: NICE) is one of the names that most investors are looking to avoid now rather than step into. And to be sure, some of this stock's weakness since the middle of last year can be attributed to being in the wrong industry at the wrong time.
If things turn truly troubling for the market, though, investors may finally figure out that this company's business is actually rather resilient.
In simplest terms, Nice provides AI-powered customer service solutions. Its CXOne platform is being used by brands like Visa, Pfizer, American Airlines, Walt Disney, and about 25,000 others, turning a mountain of digital data into a tool that's capable of serving customers and employees alike.
And it's an ideal solution. Technology consulting and industry research outfit Gartner rates Nice's CXOne as the very best option in the contact-center-as-a-service market, while calling Nice's Cognify one of the best in the conversational AI space, alongside Alphabet's Google and above SoundHound AI.
Nice is doing a great job of monetizing this superior solution, too. Last year's revenue of just under $3.0 billion (most of which was recurring revenue) was up 8% year over year, while operating income improved to the tune of 14%, extending long-lived growth trends for both measures. Nice is looking for comparable progress this fiscal year as well. It's a testament to just how much its customers like what it offers, and how willing they are to continue paying for access to this technology once they have it.
This obviously hasn't prevented the stock from easing into a prolonged slump. The market's likely to eventually recognize, however, that this recent weakness is largely the result of broad fatigue of AI stocks in general. Continued growth will fix that soon enough.
3. Berkshire Hathaway
Last but not least, add Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) to your list of safe stocks that could soar if the shift away from higher-risk growth names and toward safer options continues to firm up.
The start to the Greg Abel era has been somewhat frustrating -- to Berkshire shareholders as well as Abel himself. While he's only been at the helm as CEO since the beginning of this year and Berkshire Hathaway today is pretty much the same as it was when Warren Buffett stepped down at the end of last year, Berkshire shares continue to lag the broad market. Abel's decision to tap the company's enormous cash hoard to repurchase shares of itself -- while responsible -- doesn't seem to be what most stakeholders were hoping for.
But if safety becomes a must-have for investors' portfolios in the foreseeable future, Berkshire offers it in a big way. And it's got everything to do with what this conglomerate actually is.
See, you may be most familiar with Berkshire Hathaway as a manager of a large portfolio of stocks. That's hardly the whole story, though. Roughly one-third of its current market cap reflects the value of all the privately held businesses it also owns, like insurer Geico, Duracell batteries, Shaw flooring, railroad BNSF, Pilot Travel Centers, and Dairy Queen, just to name a few. Not only do most of these wholly owned cash cows continue contributing cash flow to their parent regardless of the economic environment, since they're not publicly traded, their value (and therefore Berkshire stock's value) isn't inherently undermined by marketwide weakness.
Should you buy stock in Procter & Gamble right now?
Before you buy stock in Procter & Gamble, 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 Procter & Gamble 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 $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
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James Brumley has positions in Alphabet and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Nice, Pfizer, SoundHound AI, Visa, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner. 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.

The Stock Market May Be Shifting From Risky Tech Stocks to Safer Sectors. Here Are 3 Stocks to Buy Before They Soar.

Key Points
American Express is a cornerstone of Berkshire's portfolio, representing about 15% of its total equity holdings.
Alphabet's cloud computing business is growing rapidly and driving significant expansion in operating income.
One of the two stocks is a clear winner when comparing the two Berkshire Hathaway holdings.
When Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) at the end of 2025, he left behind an equity portfolio packed with durable, cash-generating businesses.
But there were some surprising shifts to the portfolio before Buffett left. While the conglomerate is famous for its long-held, massive stakes in consumer brands and financial institutions, the portfolio has also slowly evolved to include dominant technology companies.
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 »
Two notable holdings that highlight this mix of old and new are American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL).
American Express is a legendary, decades-old Buffett bet that has compounded capital for years.
Alphabet, on the other hand, is a more recent addition to the portfolio. And because the purchase occurred before Buffett stepped down, it carries notable significance for investors as one of the last meaningful portfolio additions under his leadership.
With both stocks earning a spot in the Oracle of Omaha's final portfolio, investors might wonder how they stack up against each other.
When comparing the two, I think one is a better buy.
American Express
It's hard to overstate just how important American Express is to Berkshire Hathaway.
When Buffett stepped down as CEO at the end of 2025, the integrated payments company stood as the conglomerate's second-largest equity position.
With the position valued at more than $45 billion as of this writing, American Express accounts for about 15% of Berkshire's total equity portfolio (assuming Berkshire still owns the same number of shares it held at the end of Q4).
The bull case for the stock is built on the company's powerful brand, a highly affluent customer base, a closed-loop payments network that captures value on both sides of a transaction, and net interest income from lending.
Highlighting the franchise's robust momentum lately, American Express reported fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of $19.0 billion, up 10% year over year. For the full year, the company posted a record $72.2 billion in revenue.
One of the company's secret sauces is its high-fee cards that come packed with perks for its members; American Express generated a record $10 billion in net card fees in 2025, marking its 30th consecutive quarter of double-digit card fee growth.
But there's a reason the stock trades at what might, on the surface, seem like a cheap price-to-earnings ratio multiple of 20.
Unlike pure-play payments networks (e.g., Visa and Mastercard), which simply collect a fee for routing transactions, American Express is also a lender. It issues credit directly to its cardholders. This gives the company a liability-sensitive balance sheet. In a severe economic downturn, American Express is exposed to credit risk and loan defaults.
This dynamic is why the stock typically commands a lower multiple than companies with similar growth profiles but in different industries.
At a valuation like this, American Express looks reasonably priced for a high-quality financial institution. The multiple accurately reflects the inherent cyclicality and balance-sheet risk of the lending business.
Alphabet
Though Alphabet accounted for just under 2% of Berkshire's total equity holdings as of the conglomerate's last public portfolio update, the tech stock shouldn't be underestimated.
Alphabet's business model looks quite different, and its growth trajectory is notably steeper.
The tech giant recently reported a massive fourth quarter for 2025, with total revenue surging 18% year over year to $113.8 billion.
The company's core Google Services segment, which houses its dominant search engine and YouTube, continues to deliver steady results, with revenue rising 14% year over year to $95.9 billion.
But the real catalyst for the company these days is its fast-growing cloud computing business.
Alphabet's Google Cloud segment saw revenue surge 48% year over year in Q4 to $17.7 billion.
Even better, this top-line growth is translating into massive profitability gains. Net income across the entire business jumped 30% year over year in Q4 -- and earnings per share rose 31% to $2.82.
This combination of a highly profitable core advertising engine and a booming enterprise cloud business gives Alphabet a remarkably durable financial profile.
Even more, the company's aggressive investment posture suggests that management expects strong growth to persist or even accelerate. To support the massive demand it's seeing for artificial intelligence (AI) compute, Alphabet expects to spend an enormous $175 billion to $185 billion on capital expenditures in 2026.
And the company's balance sheet is a fortress, packed with about $127 billion in cash and marketable securities -- and completely free of the lending liabilities that burden financial institutions like American Express.
Of course, investors have to pay up for this quality. Alphabet's price-to-earnings ratio of about 28 as of this writing is significantly higher than what investors pay for American Express.
But at that valuation, investors are paying for broad-based double-digit growth across almost every major segment of a highly diversified tech giant.
At 28 times earnings, the valuation assumes Alphabet's cloud margins will keep expanding, and its core services will remain resilient. And given the company's recent execution, that is arguably a very reasonable expectation.
The better buy
Both American Express and Alphabet are exceptional businesses that have rightfully earned their places in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio.
But when comparing the two today, Alphabet looks like the clear winner.
American Express's multiple is constrained by the reality of its liability-sensitive balance sheet and its inherent exposure to consumer credit risk. Alphabet, meanwhile, is delivering broad-based, double-digit top-line growth while aggressively scaling its cloud computing business. Of course, there are risks, including the possibility that Alphabet's capital expenditures do not yield an attractive long-term return. But even with Alphabet's risks, the stock still looks attractive.
For investors looking for a resilient compounder to buy and hold for the next decade, Alphabet may be the more compelling choice
Should you buy stock in Alphabet right now?
Before you buy stock in Alphabet, 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 Alphabet 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 $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% 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 March 14, 2026.
American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daniel Sparks and his clients have positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, 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.

Alphabet vs. American Express: Which Warren Buffett Stock Is a Better Buy?

Key Points
Visa's current price-to-earnings ratio of 29.8 is cheaper than Mastercard's valuation.
Mastercard's projected earnings-per-share growth is higher than Visa's outlook.
Owning both stocks will improve the quality of any portfolio.
When it comes to the global payments landscape, there are no two companies that dominate quite like Visa (NYSE: V) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA). Combined, they handled a whopping $7.3 trillion in payment volume during the three-month period that ended on Dec. 31, 2025. And they have billions of active cards in use around the world.
Research from The Motley Fool shows that these are two of the most valuable financial stocks out there. Which one will make you richer?
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 »
From a valuation perspective, Visa wins the battle. Investors can buy its shares at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 29.8. This represents a small discount to Mastercard's P/E multiple of 31.1. All else equal, investors want to focus on stocks that trade at cheaper valuations.
However, when it comes to profit growth, Mastercard comes out on top. Consensus analyst estimates call for its adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) to rise at a compound annual rate of 15.8% between 2025 and 2028. That's a faster pace than Visa's projected yearly adjusted diluted EPS gain of 12.5%. Mastercard is a smaller business, so it naturally has a bigger opportunity to expand in the years ahead.
Investors don't have to pick just one of these wide-moat stocks. Owning both Visa and Mastercard can instantly improve the quality of your portfolio. Just don't expect to achieve monster returns with either stock.
Should you buy stock in Visa right now?
Before you buy stock in Visa, 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 Visa 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 $508,607!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,122,746!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 933% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 188% 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 March 13, 2026.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard 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.

Visa vs. Mastercard: Which Stock Will Make You Richer?

Visa Inc.’s V latest move into stablecoins signals how the payments giant is preparing for a future where digital currencies could reshape global transactions. In early March, Visa and Bridge, which is a stablecoin infrastructure platform owned by Stripe, announced a major expansion of their global card issuance partnership. The initiative allows fintech developers to issue stablecoin-linked Visa cards, meaning crypto wallets can still rely on Visa’s network to spend funds.
Examples include crypto platforms like Phantom and MetaMask, enabling users to spend stablecoins via cards. The collaboration plans to expand stablecoin-linked cards from 18 countries to more than 100 countries and grow its footprint in Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East by 2026-end. This deal ensures that stablecoins don’t replace Visa; they run on Visa.
At first glance, the collaboration may look like another crypto expansion, but strategically, it seems more about defense and control of payment flows. Stablecoins allow people to send money directly on blockchain networks without intermediaries. If that model scales, transactions could bypass traditional payment networks like Visa and Mastercard Incorporated MA. By integrating stablecoin capabilities with its card infrastructure, Visa is positioning its network to support these emerging payment flows rather than remain separate from them, which expands Visa’s addressable ecosystem.
The partnership also broadens the range of companies that can build payment products on Visa’s network. In addition to banks, fintech developers and digital wallet providers will be able to launch card programs that connect stablecoin balances to Visa’s merchant acceptance network. That network remains one of Visa’s strongest advantages, with more than 175 million merchant locations worldwide. It is far easier for a wallet or fintech to issue a Visa-linked card than to convince millions of merchants to accept a new payment method.
Moreover, cross-border payments are one of Visa’s most profitable segments. Stablecoins are widely used for remittances, international transfers and cross-border commerce. By integrating them into its infrastructure, Visa is expected to accelerate settlement, reduce FX friction and keep cross-border transactions on its network instead of losing that flow to blockchain-only payment rails. This converts stablecoins from a competitive threat into a new transaction rail for Visa. This way, Visa is future-proofing its operations.
Other Growth Drivers
The continued expansion of Visa’s Value-Added Services (VAS) segment remains a major tailwind. VAS revenues surged 28% in constant dollars to $3.2 billion in the fiscal first quarter of 2026, driven by rising demand for advisory, fraud prevention, risk management and marketing solutions. With the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games approaching, marketing and analytics services are positioned for further acceleration, helping the company diversify its revenues and lift margin quality.
Visa’s transaction-based model continues to insulate results from fluctuations in specific spending categories. Whether consumers spend on travel, retail, dining or digital services, Visa’s network captures value across the spectrum. This structural advantage provides earnings stability even amid shifting economic conditions. In the fiscal first quarter, processed transactions grew 9% year over year to 69.4 billion.
Visa continues to pair growth with capital returns. During the quarter, the company returned $5.1 billion to shareholders, including $3.8 billion in buybacks and $1.3 billion in dividends. As of Dec. 31, $21.1 billion remained under its repurchase authorization. Its dividend yield of 0.87% exceeds Mastercard’s 0.69% and the industry average of 0.81%. Meanwhile, another peer, American Express Company AXP, boasts a dividend yield of 1.07%.
Zacks Estimates Signal Steady Growth
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 EPS implies an 11.9% and 13.3% uptick, respectively, on a year-over-year basis. Similarly, the consensus mark for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 revenues suggests an 11.3% and 10.3% increase, respectively.
The company beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.1%.
Visa Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Price Performance & Valuation
Over the year-to-date period, Visa shares declined 11.9%, underperforming the industry’s 10.6% drop and the S&P 500’s 1.1% fall. Meanwhile, Mastercard slipped 11.7%, while American Express fell 17.3%.
YTD Price Performance - V, MA, AXP, Industry & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Visa’s valuation remains above the industry average, but that has been the case for the most part of recent history. The stock is trading at 22.71X forward price/earnings versus its five-year median of 26.26X and the industry average of 18.12X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Meanwhile, Mastercard and American Express are currently trading at 25.23X and 17X, respectively.
Key Risks to Monitor
Despite its strengths, Visa faces a number of challenges. One potential risk stems from the possibility that large retailers or technology companies could introduce their own stablecoins. Firms such as Walmart and Amazon are reportedly experimenting with such alternative payment ecosystems, which over time could redirect a portion of transaction flows away from traditional card networks. While such developments remain uncertain, the rapid pace of innovation in digital payments makes this an area worth watching.
Regulatory scrutiny also remains a key concern. In the United States, the Department of Justice has accused Visa and Mastercard of using their market dominance to sustain elevated merchant fees. Ongoing litigation and settlement discussions continue to create uncertainty around long-term pricing power. Meanwhile, the proposed Credit Card Competition Act could alter card-routing rules, potentially affecting payment network economics.
Regulatory developments in Europe add another layer of pressure. In June 2025, the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London ruled that Visa and Mastercard’s multilateral interchange fees breached European competition law. The U.K. Payment Systems Regulator is expected to introduce fee caps, which could limit revenue growth in the region. Moreover, several U.K. banks are exploring a domestic payment alternative to reduce reliance on U.S. card networks.
Bottom Line
While Visa continues to benefit from strong network economics, expanding value-added services and steady transaction growth, evolving competitive dynamics and regulatory scrutiny warrant a balanced view. The company’s push into stablecoin-linked cards highlights its efforts to adapt to emerging payment technologies while protecting its core network advantage.
However, uncertainties around regulation and potential alternative payment systems may weigh on sentiment. With solid fundamentals but a few risks to monitor, Visa currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting investors may await clearer catalysts. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
See This Stock Now for Free >>
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's Stablecoin Play Intensifies: Can it Future-Proof Its Network?

Mastercard Incorporated MA is ramping up its efforts in the world of artificial intelligence with the introduction of Virtual C-Suite, a cutting-edge AI framework designed to provide small businesses with executive-level insights. The initiative begins with a Virtual CFO, the first in a lineup of AI-powered digital executives aimed at helping entrepreneurs make smarter financial and operational decisions.
The concept builds on Mastercard’s broader agentic AI strategy, which focuses on turning payment data into actionable business intelligence. By leveraging information gathered from its extensive global payments network, where more than 175 billion transactions took place in 2025, the platform can merge macro-level trends with a business’s specific financial activities. The goal is to identify risks, highlight growth opportunities and recommend next steps, all within the tools that small businesses already use.
For small and medium enterprises, which often operate with lean teams and limited access to specialized expertise, the Virtual C-Suite helps bridge a long-standing resource gap. By integrating AI agents into accounting platforms, banking apps and business software, this system constantly monitors performance, identifies any irregularities and offers strategies to enhance cash flow, streamline payments and improve working capital management.
The Virtual CFO will debut via financial institutions and software partners later this year, with more AI executive roles planned. If successful, Mastercard could evolve beyond payments into a data-driven platform for small businesses, leveraging transaction data and expanding value-added services to support long-term growth.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of MA’s competitors in the fintech space include Visa Inc. V and American Express Company AXP.
Visa is accelerating its agentic commerce strategy through Visa Intelligent Commerce, enabling AI agents to complete purchases securely. With pilots alongside partners like DBS Bank and a growing ecosystem of collaborators, Visa is positioning its payment network as infrastructure for AI-driven digital commerce.
American Express is scaling generative AI across its Digital Labs to enhance customer insights, services and business tools. AXP is leaning into the rapid adoption of AI among small businesses, positioning its platform to deliver data-driven financial and operational support.
Mastercard’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, MA’s shares have declined 3.9% compared with the industry’s fall of 17.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.23, above the industry average of 18.12. MA carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s 2026 earnings implies 14% 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.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
This under-the-radar company specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. And it's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
See This Stock Now for Free >>
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's Virtual C-Suite Brings AI-Powered CFO to Small Firms

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – March 12, 2026 – Zacks Equity Research shares Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) as the Bull of the Day and Griffon Corporation’s GFF as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on —Visa Inc. V, Mastercard Inc. MA and American Express Co. AXP.
Here is a synopsis of all three stocks:
AI data center infrastructure stock Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. soared 1,700% in the last five years, outpacing artificial intelligence powerhouse Nvidia’s 1,340% and blowing away the rest of the Magnificent 7.
The U.S. infrastructure company, which specializes in site development and mission-critical electrical services, is riding massive growth trends across the AI data center boom, tech-focused reshoring such as semiconductor fabrication, e-commerce distribution expansion, and beyond.
Sterling Infrastructure is positioned to benefit from these critical megatrends, which are driving the U.S. economy, for years to come. STRL more than quadrupled its earnings between 2020 and 2025 and doubled its revenue.
The AI data center infrastructure company posted an impressive beat-and-raise Q4 report in late February that helps Sterling Infrastructure land a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
STRL is projected to grow its revenue and earnings by 25% in 2026. Plus, STRL stock found some support at some key technical ranges recently after its post-earnings pullback.
All in, investors looking for an infrastructure stock that provides long-term upside exposure to AI data centers, reshoring, e-commerce, and other critical economic trends should consider buying Sterling Infrastructure now.
Buy AI Data Center Infrastructure Stock STRL Now and Hold
Sterling, which traces its roots to the 1950s, is a leader in large-scale site development and mission-critical electrical services for data centers and beyond.
STRL began pivoting its business to become the higher-margin, growth-heavy firm it is today roughly a decade ago. The company was able to looked ahead and see the massive growth pipeline across e-commerce, data centers, and more.
The infrastructure company doubled its sales between 2020 ($1.23 billion) and 2025 ($2.49 billion), including 18% YoY growth in 2025.
Sterling grew its GAAP earnings per share (EPS) by 525% between 2020 and 2025, soaring from $1.50 a share to $9.38 last year.
STRL operates across three core segments: E-Infrastructure, Transportation, and Building Solutions.
E-Infrastructure is by far its largest revenue contributor (59% in 2025, 69% in Q4) and driver, with sales up 59% YoY in 2025. Sterling completed its acquisition of leading specialty electrical and mechanical contractor CEC Facilities Group in September 2025 to “significantly expand” its E-Infrastructure capabilities.
This growth also makes sense considering that Sterling operates essential large-scale site development and services and mission-critical electrical services for AI data centers, semiconductor fabrication, manufacturing, e-commerce distribution centers, power generation, and more.
These five areas—AI data centers, semiconductor fabrication, manufacturing, e-commerce distribution centers, and power generation—could arguably become the growth engines of the entire U.S. economy.
The AI capex boom is heating up in 2026, driven by Nvidia NVDA, the AI hyperscalers, and more, as everyone races not to get left behind in the AI arms race.
The U.S. is reshoring critical industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, with heavyweights Taiwan Semi and Micron actively expanding their fabrication bases in the U.S.
The power-hungry AI data center boom, the broader electrification push, and years of underinvestment are leading to once-in-a-generation growth of the energy sector from nuclear power to grid expansion.
Meanwhile, Sterling’s Transportation Solutions, as the name suggests, is focused on highways, bridges, airports, rail, and more. Its Building Solutions segment is centered around concrete foundations for homes, parking structures, and commercial buildings.
The "Strong Buy" Stock’s Growth Outlook
The firm posted another solid beat-and-raise performance when it reported its Q4 results on February 25, offering robust 2026 guidance that helped Sterling earn its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Sterling ended 2025 with a signed backlog of $3.0 billion, which grew 78% from year-end 2024 (and 49% on a same-store basis). STRL said that its “signed backlog, unsigned awards, and future phase opportunities give us visibility into a pool of work approaching $4.5 billion.”
This backdrop is why its FY26 earnings estimate jumped another 15%, with its FY27 outlook 5% higher, extending its impressive run of upward EPS revisions.
Sterling is projected to grow its revenue by 25% in 2026 and another 9% in 2027 to reach $3.38 billion. Meanwhile, it is expected to expand its adjusted EPS by 26% and 15%, respectively.
More Reasons to Buy AI Data Center Infrastructure Stock STRL
STRL has skyrocketed ~1,700% in the past five years to blow away its highly-ranked industry’s 140%, the S&P 500’s 75%, and even outclimb Nvidia’s 1,340%. This is part of a much larger surge over the past 10 and 25 years.
Sterling stock has surged 260% in the past 12 months. Yet, its recent pullback after its earnings report has it trading 8% below its peaks.
Valuation-wise, STRL trade 22% below its recent highs at 31.1X forward 12-month earnings.
The stock found support at its 50-day and its longer-term 10-week moving averages in the first week of March.
Sterling's recent jump has it on the cusp of possibly breaking out to its all-time highs and then into a new trading range.
Griffon Corporation’s earnings estimates extended their downward trend after the maker of everything from garage doors to residential and industrial ceiling fans offered disappointing guidance on February 5.
GFF’s recent downward revisions earn the stock a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) as some of its business segments come under pressure against a tough-to-compete-against period of growth and other headwinds, such as a slowing housing market.
Should Investors Stay Away From GFF Stock Right Now?
Griffon is a diversified management and holding company that operates through two core reportable segments: Home and Building Products and Consumer and Professional Products.
GFF’s Home and Building Products is focused on residential sectional garage doors, alongside commercial sectional doors, rolling steel doors, and grille products sold across various brands.
Meanwhile, its Consumer and Professional Products portfolio features branded residential and industrial ceiling fans, wire and wood shelving, storage cabinets, long-handled tools, and landscaping products, and more.
GFF’s business experienced large growth between 2020 and 2022 as the housing market boomed amid low interest rates and historic Covid-based housing market trends. Things have cooled off over the last few years for Griffon.
Griffon’s earnings estimates slipped again after it offered downbeat guidance when it reported its Q1 fiscal 2026 results on February 5. Its recent string of negative revisions earn GFF a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Some long-term investors might want to put Griffon on their watchlists. But it is likely best to look elsewhere right now for a stock to buy in March.
Additional content:
Visa Packs Its Bags for APAC Travel Boom: A Virtual Card Play
As Asia Pacific travel rebounds, Visa Inc. is positioning itself at the center of the region's evolving travel payments landscape. It has teamed up with Trip.com Group to roll out a global virtual travel card program aimed at streamlining and securing payment processes throughout the travel supply chain. The initiative, issued through Trip.com’s fintech arm TripLink, has already debuted in Singapore and is expanding to Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
The program introduces Visa virtual card credentials across Trip.com’s operations, making B2B payment transactions between travel agencies, hotels and suppliers much smoother. By automating the reconciliation process and boosting data visibility, this system helps reduce operational hiccups for travel partners while enhancing payment reliability across various booking platforms.
The timing of the rollout aligns with a strong rebound in regional tourism. Per V’s research, more than half of consumers in the Asia Pacific region are gearing up to travel internationally in the next few months, with Japan, China and Australia topping the list of popular destinations. As cross-border travel picks up, card-based payments remain the preferred method for overseas spending, thanks to security features, global acceptance and reward ecosystems.
This partnership boosts V’s presence in the fast-growing travel payments sector. Virtual cards are becoming increasingly popular as businesses look for payment solutions that are automated and easy to track. By integrating its network more deeply into the travel booking process, Visa not only increases its transaction volume but solidifies its position as the essential financial support for digital travel commerce.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of V’s competitors in the payments space include Mastercard Inc. and American Express Co.
Mastercard continues strengthening its travel payments footprint through partnerships with travel technology firms. Recently, MA teamed up with Travelsoft Pay to automate B2B travel settlements using virtual card technology, improving payment security and efficiency across travel suppliers and intermediaries.
American Express continues to focus on premium travel and lifestyle rewards through its Membership Rewards program. Cardholders benefit from flexible point redemption, access to exclusive experiences and partnerships with airlines and hotels, reinforcing AXP’s position in high-value, experience-driven loyalty.
Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, shares of Visa have declined 5.3% compared with the industry’s 17.2% fall.
From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.12, above the industry average of 18.24. V carries a Value Scoreof D.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies an 11.9% jump from the year-ago period.
Visa stock 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.

Sterling Infrastructure and Griffon have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day

Key Points
Despite appearances, there remain massive growth avenues for Visa.
The company has other qualities of long-term winners, including a strong moat and a solid dividend program.
Since its 2008 IPO, Visa (NYSE: V), a financial services leader, has delivered well above average returns. Some might wonder how much upside remains, given that Visa is already a well-established giant with billions of credit and debit cards in circulation. Can the stock still produce the kind of performance that will, hopefully, set investors who purchase its shares today up for life? Let's find out.
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Not a saturated market
Visa operates a payment network that facilitates credit and debit card transactions. Although most adults in the U.S. (about 82%) own a credit card and the market in the country is fairly mature, penetration isn't nearly as high outside the U.S. Visa estimates that card-linked credit products as a percentage of consumer spending in international markets is half what it is in the U.S. So, Visa still has opportunities to expand its global reach. Bringing more people into its ecosystem will help boost its business.
Here's another way to see this. Visa should benefit from increased transaction volume, since it earns fees on each transaction it facilitates. The company estimates that there is still about $20 trillion in cash, checks, and other kinds of transactions that it could bring into its ecosystem. Note, this amount dwarfs the company's trailing-12-month revenue of $41.39 billion. But can Visa really capture a decent share of this remaining market? The answer is "yes" because cards have significant advantages.
For instance, they are easier and arguably safer to carry than large amounts of cash, and they can be quickly restricted if they are stolen, something that isn't possible with cash. Visa has been at the forefront of the cash displacement phenomenon, and there is clearly plenty more work to be done. Further, the e-commerce industry is on a long-term growth path. These typically require digital payment methods, so Visa should benefit from this tailwind as well.
Why Visa is still a buy
Visa is a top player in an industry that still has plenty of growth fuel, but can the company maintain its leadership? The answer is, once again, most likely "yes," thanks to the company's economic moat. Not only is Visa's brand strong, but it also benefits from network effects. The more cards in circulation it boasts, the more attractive it is for merchants as a payment method. That's another important reason the stock can perform well over the long run.
Finally, there is Visa's excellent dividend program. Despite its low forward yield of 0.9%, Visa has increased its payouts by 378.6% over the past decade. Opting to reinvest dividends will significantly boost investors' long-term returns. So, can Visa set you up for life? For investors with a long-term horizon of, say, 20 to 30 years, Visa can absolutely do so as part of a well-diversified portfolio.
Should you buy stock in Visa right now?
Before you buy stock in Visa, 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 Visa 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 $522,791!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,132,678!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of March 12, 2026.
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Visa. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends 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.

Could Buying Visa Stock Today Set You Up for Life?

Key Points
Visa is a large payments processor, which could see earnings slump in a recession.
Even in a recession, the company's business will remain well-positioned for long-term growth.
Visa (NYSE: V) is one of the world's largest payment processors. It collects a small fee each time someone uses a Visa-branded card. No single transaction is all that important, but in 2025, the company handled 257.5 billion transactions, up 10% over 2024, so the numbers start to add up. Here's why the stock could be a buy right now if you have $1,000.
A recession would hurt Visa, but not as bad as you may think
There's no way around it: if consumers aren't spending as much, Visa's transaction volume growth could slow or even fall. So the company isn't immune to adversity. However, card transactions are increasingly replacing cash transactions, and it is highly unlikely that this trend will reverse. Notably, e-commerce continues to grow, which requires increased adoption of non-cash payment methods.
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And people won't completely stop shopping, because they can't. You will continue to need food and other consumer staples necessities. So there is an underlying strength to Visa's business and a growth bias. Notably, Visa not only makes buying things easier, but it also provides security for financial transactions, which is likely to remain important for decades to come.
Visa's stock has dipped
So there are good reasons to like Visa's stock in general. However, the reason to buy it right now is the recent roughly 15% stock price pullback. This drawdown has left Visa with a price-to-sales ratio of 16.7x, which is below its five-year average of 20.6x. The stock's price-to-earnings ratio is currently 29.8x compared to a five-year average of 33.4x. And the price-to-forward earnings ratio is 24.7x versus a five-year average of 27.3x.
To be completely fair, Visa's stock is not cheap. If you have a value bias, you probably won't be interested. However, it is relatively cheap for Visa, which should interest growth investors and, more notably, growth-at-a-reasonable-price investors (GARP). On the growth side of the equation, Visa's revenues have grown at a compound annual rate of 11% over the past decade, while earnings have risen even faster, at 14%.
Visa has handled economic downturns before
It is reasonable to be worried about the impact a recession might have on Visa's business. However, if history is any guide, the impact of an economic downturn will be temporary. Meanwhile, the company's business foundation is strong, and it is biased toward long-term growth. A $1,000 investment will let you buy three shares of Visa.
Should you buy stock in Visa right now?
Before you buy stock in Visa, 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 Visa 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 $522,791!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,132,678!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 952% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% 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 March 11, 2026.
Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends 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.

The Smartest Growth Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Investors in Visa Inc (Symbol: V) saw new options become available today, for the July 17th expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 128 days until expiration the newly available contracts represent a potential opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the V options chain for the new July 17th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $310.00 strike price has a current bid of $16.65. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $310.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $293.35 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of V, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $313.09/share today.
Because the $310.00 strike represents an approximate 1% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 58%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 5.37% return on the cash commitment, or 15.32% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Visa Inc, and highlighting in green where the $310.00 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $315.00 strike price has a current bid of $19.50. If an investor was to purchase shares of V stock at the current price level of $313.09/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $315.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 6.84% if the stock gets called away at the July 17th expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if V shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Visa Inc, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing V's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $315.00 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $315.00 strike represents an approximate 1% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 46%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 6.23% boost of extra return to the investor, or 17.76% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example, as well as the call contract example, are both approximately 28%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 251 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $313.09) to be 24%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
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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.

July 17th Options Now Available For Visa (V)

As Asia Pacific travel rebounds, Visa Inc. V is positioning itself at the center of the region's evolving travel payments landscape. It has teamed up with Trip.com Group to roll out a global virtual travel card program aimed at streamlining and securing payment processes throughout the travel supply chain. The initiative, issued through Trip.com’s fintech arm TripLink, has already debuted in Singapore and is expanding to Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
The program introduces Visa virtual card credentials across Trip.com’s operations, making B2B payment transactions between travel agencies, hotels and suppliers much smoother. By automating the reconciliation process and boosting data visibility, this system helps reduce operational hiccups for travel partners while enhancing payment reliability across various booking platforms.
The timing of the rollout aligns with a strong rebound in regional tourism. Per V’s research, more than half of consumers in the Asia Pacific region are gearing up to travel internationally in the next few months, with Japan, China and Australia topping the list of popular destinations. As cross-border travel picks up, card-based payments remain the preferred method for overseas spending, thanks to security features, global acceptance and reward ecosystems.
This partnership boosts V’s presence in the fast-growing travel payments sector. Virtual cards are becoming increasingly popular as businesses look for payment solutions that are automated and easy to track. By integrating its network more deeply into the travel booking process, Visa not only increases its transaction volume but solidifies its position as the essential financial support for digital travel commerce.
How Are Competitors Faring?
Some of V’s competitors in the payments space include Mastercard Incorporated MA and American Express Company AXP.
Mastercard continues strengthening its travel payments footprint through partnerships with travel technology firms. Recently, MA teamed up with Travelsoft Pay to automate B2B travel settlements using virtual card technology, improving payment security and efficiency across travel suppliers and intermediaries.
American Express continues to focus on premium travel and lifestyle rewards through its Membership Rewards program. Cardholders benefit from flexible point redemption, access to exclusive experiences and partnerships with airlines and hotels, reinforcing AXP’s position in high-value, experience-driven loyalty.
Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Over the past year, shares of Visa have declined 5.3% compared with the industry’s 17.2% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.12, above the industry average of 18.24. V carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies an 11.9% jump from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Visa stock 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.