Mastercard (NYSE:MA) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Mastercard

Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to over $9 trillion in volume during 2023. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.

PCAR


These three stocks, which are at or near the top of their respective industries, just increased dividends by double-digit percentages. Below, I’ll reveal how much these companies are paying out to shareholders

3 Big-Name Stocks Just Announced Big-Time Dividend Increases

GOOGL

ULTA


When investors look to find the next big opportunity to invest their capital, they often focus on what’s popular at the time or having the best price action in the so-called “popularity contest” that

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News

Reported Earlier: Mastercard SpendingPulse Says U.S. Retail Sales Excluding Automotive Increased 3.8% YoY From Nov 1 Through Dec 24; U.S. Online Retail Sales In Holiday Season Grew 6.7% YoY, Whereas In-store Sales Increased 2.9%

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GPN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$576.0K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$65.6K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>986</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OWL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$60.3K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td>356</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$67.8K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>261</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$530.00</td>
<td>$32.6K</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>232</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$44.0K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>127</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$33.4K</td>
<td>288</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BLK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$990.00</td>
<td>$32.8K</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$26.7K</td>
<td>78</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding GPN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 147 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 1200 contract(s) at a $125.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $576.0K, with a price of $480.0 per contract. There were 1041 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 342 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 49 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $65.6K, with a price of $192.0 per contract. There were 5106 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 986 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding OWL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OWL#NYSE">OWL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 392 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 355 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $60.3K, with a price of $170.0 per contract. There were 3814 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 356 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 29 contract(s) at a $280.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $67.8K, with a price of $2340.0 per contract. There were 2687 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 261 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 7 day(s) on December 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 86 contract(s) at a $530.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.6K, with a price of $380.0 per contract. There were 36 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 232 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 28 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 27 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.0K, with a price of $1630.0 per contract. There were 4935 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 127 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 364 day(s) on December 19, 2025. Parties traded 17 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.4K, with a price of $1970.0 per contract. There were 288 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BLK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 91 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 4 contract(s) at a $990.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.8K, with a price of $8220.0 per contract. There were 16 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For V (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 545 day(s) on June 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 5 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.7K, with a price of $5350.0 per contract. There were 78 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

COIN

UPST

9 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Mastercard's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.48% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 6.29 million shares sold short, which is 0.77% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.31 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Mastercard Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734711325_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Mastercard has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Mastercard's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Mastercard's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.86%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Peering Into Mastercard's Recent Short Interest

Oppenheimer analyst Dominick Gabriele maintains Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $591 to $588.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Oppenheimer Maintains Outperform on Mastercard, Lowers Price Target to $588

On Wednesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced significant measures to protect consumers from deceptive <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/credit-cards" rel="noreferrer noopener">credit card</a> practices and help them save money on interest and fees.
These efforts include issuing a circular to law enforcement agencies, publishing new research on retail credit cards, and launching a comparison tool to aid consumers in navigating the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-takes-action-on-bait-and-switch-credit-card-rewards-tactics/" rel="noreferrer noopener">credit card market</a>.
Investors will closely watch credit card companies, including Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), Affirm Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Corpay, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPAY#NYSE">CPAY</a>), Global Payments Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>) and Shift4 Payments, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOUR#NYSE">FOUR</a>).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42553094/jabil-q1-earnings-tops-expectations-cloud-and-data-center-growth-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jabil Q1 Earnings: Revenue And EPS Beat, Cloud and Data Center Growth, Raises Annual Outlook</a>
According to the CFPB, some credit card issuers may be engaging in illegal practices such as devaluing rewards points or miles, making it difficult for consumers to redeem promised benefits.
The agency highlighted that companies could face penalties if they fail to deliver advertised rewards, mislead users with hidden terms, or revoke rewards through unclear policies.
The circular aims to deter companies from engaging in bait-and-switch tactics and to encourage fair competition within the credit card industry.
As part of its ongoing research, the CFPB discovered that retail credit cards often charge higher interest rates than general-purpose cards. According to the study, more than 90% of retail cards carry a maximum annual percentage rate (APR) above 30%, compared to just 38% for non-retail cards.
Retail cards, frequently promoted during peak shopping seasons, also account for a disproportionate share of late fees, highlighting potential consumer risks.
The CFPB unveiled its &#8220;Explore Credit Cards&#8221; tool to address these concerns, designed to provide unbiased information about over 500 credit cards. Unlike traditional comparison sites, this platform enables users to compare cards based on interest rates, fees, and rewards without pay-to-play promotions.
Earlier this year, the CFPB revealed that larger credit card issuers charge significantly higher interest rates than smaller banks and credit unions. By making average interest rate data publicly accessible, the CFPB aims to empower consumers to make informed decisions and find the best rates tailored to their needs.
The CFPB plans to continue monitoring the credit card market and welcomes voluntary data contributions from additional issuers to enhance its comparison tool further.
In October, the CFPB ordered Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) to pay <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41501333/apple-goldman-sachs-fined-89-million-over-apple-card-missteps-government-watchdog-orders-victim-comp" rel="noreferrer noopener">$89 million in fines</a> for deceptive practices regarding the Apple Card.
In December, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) Wealth Management agreed to pay a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42405341/morgan-stanley-agrees-to-pay-15m-penalty-to-settle-sec-charges-over-advisors-stealing-client-funds" rel="noreferrer noopener">$15 million fine</a> after the SEC found the firm failed to prevent financial advisors from using client funds to cover personal credit card bills. The SEC investigation uncovered gaps in supervisory practices between 2015 and 2022, allowing unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers to advisors&#8217; accounts.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/24/12/42552200/sony-semiconductor-hits-20-billion-image-sensor-shipments-plans-expansion" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sony Semiconductor Hits 20 Billion Image Sensor Shipments, Plans Expansion</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

AAPL

AFRM

CPAY

FOUR

Consumer Finance Watchdog Cracks Down on Credit Card Sneaky Fees and False Promises

Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette maintains Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $564 to $654.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Mastercard, Raises Price Target to $654

Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) shares are moving higher in extended trading Tuesday after the company boosted its quarterly dividend and announced a new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/b42540370/mastercard-board-of-directors-announces-quarterly-dividend-and-12-billion-share-repurchase-program">share repurchase program</a>.
What Happened: After the market close on Tuesday, Mastercard announced its board declared a quarterly cash dividend of 76 cents per share, a 15% increase compared to the company&#8217;s previous quarterly dividend of 66 cents per share.
The dividend will be paid on Feb. 7, 2025, to shareholders of record as of Jan. 9, 2025.
In addition to the dividend raise, Mastercard&#8217;s board also approved a new buyback, authorizing the company to repurchase up to $12 billion of its common stock. 
The new buyback program will go into effect once the company completes all repurchases remaining under its buyback announced in December 2023. Mastercard said it had approximately $3.9 billion remaining under its current repurchase program as of Dec. 13.
MA Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/ma">Mastercard shares</a> were up 0.71% in after-hours, trading at $534 at the time of publication Tuesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Buybacks

After-Hours Center

Movers

Mastercard Increases Dividend By 15%, Announces New $12B Buyback, Shares Move Higher After Hours

The cash dividend will be paid on February 7, 2025 to holders of record of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of January 9, 2025.

Dividends

Mastercard Boosts Quarterly Cash Dividend By 15% From $0.66 To $0.76 Per Share

Mastercard Plans New Share Repurchase Program, Authorizing Repurchase Of Up To $12B Of Its Class A Common Stock

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MA, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Mastercard.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 37%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $99,405, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $261,546.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $520.0 to $540.0 for Mastercard over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Mastercard's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Mastercard's whale activity within a strike price range from $520.0 to $540.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Mastercard Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734451242_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$10.95</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$530.00</td>
<td>$55.2K</td>
<td align="right">468</td>
<td align="right">134</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$23.25</td>
<td>$22.7</td>
<td>$23.08</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
<td>$51.0K</td>
<td align="right">102</td>
<td align="right">44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$12.95</td>
<td>$10.4</td>
<td>$11.75</td>
<td>$530.00</td>
<td>$49.3K</td>
<td align="right">468</td>
<td align="right">19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$23.25</td>
<td>$23.05</td>
<td>$23.05</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
<td>$48.4K</td>
<td align="right">102</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$10.4</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$530.00</td>
<td>$48.3K</td>
<td align="right">468</td>
<td align="right">104</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Mastercard</h3>
Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to over $9 trillion in volume during 2023. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Mastercard, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Mastercard Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 657,865, the price of MA is down -0.06% at $530.0. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 43 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Mastercard</h3>
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $614.0.
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&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods keeps a Outperform rating on Mastercard with a target price of $618. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Mastercard, maintaining a target price of $610. 
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Markets

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Mastercard

Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 10.67% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 22.72%. Currently, Mastercard has a market capitalization of $490.53 billion. 
Buying $1000 In MA: If an investor had bought $1000 of MA stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $21,690.34 today based on a price of $534.45 for MA at the time of writing.
<h3>Mastercard's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733956218_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 15 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Jefferies analyst Trevor Williams maintains Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $590 to $610.

Jefferies Maintains Buy on Mastercard, Raises Price Target to $610

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Sanjay Sakhrani maintains Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $580 to $618.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Mastercard, Raises Price Target to $618

NIO Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) shares are trading higher on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener">Friday in the premarket session.</a>
The Shanghai, China-based company announced a strategic partnership with Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>).
Signed in Shanghai, this collaboration aims to enhance vehicle-related payment services for NIO users outside of China, CnEV Post <a target="_blank" href="https://cnevpost.com/2024/12/05/nio-partnership-mastercard/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The two companies will work on global initiatives in user value-added services, payment innovation, data services, consulting, joint marketing, and ESG efforts.
Mastercard cardholders will enjoy exclusive benefits, including charging, battery swaps, maintenance, and car rental services as part of the partnership.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42363278/us-economy-adds-227000-jobs-in-november-wage-growth-accelerates" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Economy Adds 227,000 Jobs In November, Wage Growth Accelerates</a>
Additionally, NIO and Mastercard plan to integrate in-vehicle payment functions, allowing users to make seamless payments for charging, parking, shopping, and other expenses, enhancing the overall travel experience.
NIO's co-founder Qin Lihong and Mastercard's Greater China president Chang Qing attended the signing ceremony, marking a significant milestone in NIO's global expansion.
This partnership is set to improve customer experience and expand the reach of both brands internationally, the report adds.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, NIO stock has lost over 40% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Invesco Golden Dragon China ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGJ#NASDAQ">PGJ</a>).
In its push for global growth, NIO has also scored a significant legal victory in its dispute with Audi over trademark rights in Australia, CNeV Post&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cnevpost.com/2024/12/05/nio-scores-win-australia-audi-es-trademark-dispute/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The Australian intellectual property authorities ruled in favor of NIO, allowing the company to move forward with its application to register the ES6, ES7, and ES8 trademarks.
This ruling marks a major milestone in NIO's efforts to secure its intellectual property globally, with the battle with Audi now spreading to more territories, according to the report.
Price Action: NIO shares are trading higher by 1.74% to $4.690 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42352997/santa-rally-here-are-10-sp-500-stocks-that-historically-outperformed-in-decembers-second-half" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Santa Rally: 10 S&amp;P 500 Stocks That Outperform In December's Second Half</a></li>
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What's Going On With NIO Stock Friday? Mastercard In-Vehicle Payment Offering In The Works

On Thursday, Equifax, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>) announced it partnered with Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) to help Latin American financial institutions, payment service providers, acquiring banks, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/n42351562/equifax-and-mastercard-join-forces-to-combat-payment-fraud-in-latin-america" rel="noreferrer noopener">and merchants tackle payment fraud</a>.
Mastercard business customers in Latin America will now have access to enhanced fraud management tools, including Mastercard Identity, Ethoca Alerts, and Ethoca Consumer Clarity, through Equifax's Kount Payment Fraud solution.
These integrated solutions safeguard the digital payments ecosystem with identity verification, fraud risk assessment, and chargeback prevention via order validation and alerting services.
Equifax's Kount Payment Fraud solution and Mastercard are expected to help businesses stop threats in real time to drive growth and protect revenue.
Chris Jones, President of Equifax Latin America, stated, "This strategic alignment will provide safer payment transactions and reduce chargebacks, enabling businesses of all sizes in&nbsp;Latin America&nbsp;to improve their bottom line."
"Adding to our existing capabilities, this collaboration is the next step in our journey to make the digital economy safe and more seamless for payment providers and merchants in the region," said&nbsp;Ana Lucia Magliano, Executive Vice President of services, Mastercard Latin America and the&nbsp;Caribbean.
Notably, according to a merchant-savvy report, Latin America, where merchants lose over 4.6% of e-commerce revenue to fraud, is set to see e-commerce nearly double to $160 billion by 2025.
Investors can gain exposure to the EFX via Virtus ETF Trust II Virtus KAR Mid-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMID#NYSE">KMID</a>) and Fidelity Disruptive Finance ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDFF#NASDAQ">FDFF</a>).
Price Action: EFX shares are up 0.22% to $261.35 premarket at the last check on Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42321510/mastercard-settles-uk-antitrust-lawsuit-for-250-million" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mastercard Settles UK Antitrust Lawsuit For $250 Million</a></li>
</ul>

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