Mastercard Incorporated Stock Price, News & Analysis

Mastercard is enhancing its Crypto Card Program to simplify cryptocurrency conversion to fiat currency. Collaborating with Evolve Bank & Trust, Paxos Trust Company, and Circle, Mastercard aims to help banks and crypto firms provide card options for digital asset spending globally. The program addresses operational challenges in currency conversion, allowing users to spend cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether as fiat. This initiative supports the adoption of stablecoins and aims to expand the ecosystem for crypto payments.

On July 29, 2021, Mastercard (NYSE: MA) will announce its second-quarter 2021 financial results, followed by a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Financial data will be made available on the company's investor relations website. A replay of the call can be accessed for 30 days. Mastercard aims to drive an inclusive digital economy, emphasizing secure transactions and sustainable growth.

U.S. retail sales continued to rise in June, marking nine months of growth, with a year-over-year increase of 11.0% excluding automotive and gasoline. E-commerce grew 8.3% YOY, reflecting a shift to digital shopping. Notable increases in specific sectors included Restaurants (55.1% YOY), Department Stores (67.4% YOY), and Apparel (62.9% YOY). However, the Furniture & Furnishings sector saw its first negative growth of -5.3% YOY, despite remaining elevated 16.6% YO2Y. Mastercard SpendingPulse provides insights on national sales data and trends.

Mastercard encourages 60 million Americans to participate in the "Stand Up" to support its $60 million donation to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). The campaign aims to drive further donations and awareness for cancer research through three initiatives: Eat, where Mastercard donates US¢1 for each transaction at participating restaurants; Engage, allowing users to donate directly to SU2C; and Experience, where 100% of purchases from special experiences go to SU2C. Mastercard has contributed more than $55 million to SU2C over 11 years, supporting FDA approvals for nine cancer therapies.

GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY) announced its collaboration with Mastercard (NYSE: MA) to enhance the Venture Forward initiative, aimed at assessing the economic impact of online microbusinesses. This partnership grants City Possible members access to valuable data, providing insights into local economies affected by microbusinesses. GoDaddy has gathered data from over 20 million microbusinesses, analyzing effects across 30,000+ zip codes and 900+ city regions. This information supports local governments in fostering inclusive economic growth.

Mastercard's latest report, Recovery Insights: Ready for Takeoff?, reveals key travel trends as the industry struggles to recover from the pandemic. Notably, one-fifth of the countries studied have achieved over 90% of pre-pandemic domestic flight bookings. Global gasoline spending has risen by 13% since 2019, indicating a growing demand for road trips. While air travel still lags globally, some markets like the U.S. show promising signs of recovery. The report highlights shifts in consumer spending, particularly in leisure travel, fueled by pent-up savings and economic stimulus.

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) held its annual stockholders' meeting, where several key decisions were made. The election of all 14 directors for a one-year term was confirmed. Additionally, stockholders approved the advisory compensation for executive officers and ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as the independent accounting firm for 2021. Significant amendments included the approval of the Long-Term Incentive Plan and changes to the corporate charter that eliminated supermajority voting requirements. Final voting results will be filed with the SEC.

Bilt Rewards and Mastercard have launched the Bilt Mastercard, a co-branded credit card allowing U.S. renters to pay rent without fees while earning rewards points. This innovative card eliminates transaction fees and includes a digital payment experience for renters. It also offers credit-building opportunities through on-time rent payments, with automatic reporting to credit bureaus. Cardholders can earn 2x points on eligible transactions and redeem them for travel, fitness classes, or future home down payments. The program initially targets over 2 million rental units across the U.S.