The payments giants Visa and Mastercard reported robust revenue and earnings growth for their latest quarters, though their premium valuations continue to spark investor debate on which offers the superior long-term opportunity.
The global payments giant reported a 15% surge in net revenue and processed a record 69.4 billion transactions in its fiscal first quarter, signaling resilient consumer confidence and a rebound from previous quarters.
Facing internal resistance to AI adoption, payments company MassPay linked its use directly to a profit-sharing pool. The result, according to CEO Ran Grushkowsky, was not just significant cost savings and eliminated hiring needs, but a notable boost in team morale.
Despite reporting revenue and earnings that topped Wall Street forecasts, Triumph Financial's stock fell post-earnings. While management pointed to strength in its payments network and cost controls, analysts on the call focused on persistent challenges in the freight sector and the sustainability of margins.
Chinese authorities have executed four individuals convicted of leading a massive online fraud and gambling ring based in Myanmar, linked to over $4 billion in illicit proceeds and the deaths of six Chinese nationals. The move is part of a widening crackdown on cross-border criminal networks targeting Chinese citizens.
A new $45 fee for air travelers lacking a REAL ID or other approved identification is now in effect. The TSA's ConfirmID program aims to shift processing costs to non-compliant passengers, urging advance online payment to avoid airport delays.
The collapse of Shenzhen-based Jereh, a gold trading platform that operated with massive leverage and no physical backing, has left a trail of financial devastation for 150,000 retail investors, who now confront a controversial repayment plan offering mere fractions of their investments.
PennyMac Financial Services reported Q4 2025 net income of $106.8 million, declaring a $0.30 per share dividend. While full-year profits grew on higher loan production, the quarter was pressured by a sharp decline in mortgage servicing income due to accelerated prepayments, highlighting the volatility inherent in its dual business model.
Orchid Island Capital (ORC) reported robust fourth-quarter earnings, driven by a stable interest rate environment, tightening mortgage spreads, and lower funding costs. The REIT continued its strategic pivot into higher-coupon mortgage pools with built-in prepayment protection.
In a strategic move to modernize financial services, DXC Technology partners with Ripple to embed digital asset custody and payment solutions directly into legacy core banking systems, aiming to facilitate institutional adoption of blockchain technology.
Investment firms Stifel and Northland have raised their price targets on Ondas Holdings (ONDS), following a virtual investor day where management outlined an ambitious growth roadmap, highlighting the company's unique position in military drones and private wireless networks.
Secretary-General António Guterres warns the United Nations could exhaust its regular budget cash by July, citing chronic non-payment of dues by member states and a "Kafkaesque" financial cycle that threatens its core operations.
Mastercard's Q4 2025 results surpassed profit expectations, driven by strong demand for its value-added services and key global partnerships, highlighting the payments giant's resilience amid economic uncertainty.
A UK tribunal has allowed a massive lawsuit accusing Valve of anti-competitive practices to proceed, drawing vocal support from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who calls Steam the last major platform clinging to restrictive payment rules.
The historic Farmers' Almanac, famed for its secret weather formula, has been acquired by digital media company Unofficial Networks. The move saves the publication from shuttering, relocates its operations from Maine to New York, and promises a digital-first revival alongside a planned return to print.
A couple earning $380,000 annually faces a classic high-cost dilemma: Should they stretch for a $1.8 million dream home now or wait? With a hefty down payment saved but significant student debt, their debate highlights the tension between future earnings potential and present financial anxiety in today's premium housing markets.
Visa is aggressively expanding its footprint beyond traditional card payments, launching new initiatives in stablecoin settlements, renter-focused commerce, and streamlined crypto-to-fiat conversions. These partnerships aim to embed Visa's network into the burgeoning worlds of blockchain-based finance and essential housing expenditures.
The Bancorp (TBBK) capped off fiscal 2025 with robust earnings, driven by surging fintech payments and improved credit quality. Management outlined a bullish multi-year forecast, projecting significant profit growth anchored by three core digital initiatives and sustained capital returns to shareholders.
Maersk Air Cargo is ending its trans-Pacific Boeing 767 operations and partnership with Amerijet International, opting for larger Boeing 777 freighters. The move will result in pilot furloughs at Amerijet and signals a strategic pivot towards more efficient long-haul air cargo networks.
Dutch payments giant Adyen is forging ahead with two key partnerships—enabling SNAP EBT payments in the U.S. with Forage and launching embedded solutions in Asia-Pacific with Raptor—as it seeks to reignite growth while its shares languish well below historic highs.
