CARNEY LLOYD sold $251K of V

Visa predicts U.S. holiday retail sales will rise 4.5% in 2026, the strongest growth since 2021, with inflation-adjusted growth at 1.1%. The average gift budget is expected to increase 5.6% to $777. Visa's data shows higher-income households are spending more on travel, while lower-income groups are cutting back. Retailers may benefit if spending shifts from travel to merchandise, according to Visa's economist.

Visa (V) raised its quarterly dividend by 16% to $0.78 per share, increasing its annual yield to 0.71%. Mastercard (MA) pays $0.87 quarterly, yielding 0.52%. Visa's dividend growth outpaces Mastercard's over the past five years. Both stocks have rallied post-earnings, with Visa up 9.08% and Mastercard up 10.13%. Visa forecasts low-double-digit revenue growth for 2027, while Mastercard shows faster growth and a lower PEG ratio.

BA Euroflyer has filed a UK claim against Mastercard and Visa over multilateral interchange fees, according to a lawsuit summary. The case focuses on fees charged between banks during card transactions. The Competition Appeal Tribunal is involved.

Freedom Broker downgraded Visa (NYSE:V) to Hold from Buy, raising its price target to $427. Visa's Q4 2026 revenue grew 13% to $12.14B, with EPS up 17% to $3.48. Full-year 2026 revenue rose 15% to $45.9B. The firm expects slower growth in 2027. Other analysts maintain Overweight ratings with higher targets.

Visa, Mastercard, and American Express shares have fallen significantly in 2026, with investors concerned about potential disruptions from stablecoins and regulatory changes. Walmart and Amazon are exploring issuing their own stablecoins, which could reduce their reliance on card networks and save billions in fees. Mastercard acquired BVNK, a stablecoin infrastructure firm, while Visa is focusing on AI and stablecoin settlement pilots.

Visa (V), Entergy (ETR), Tennant (TNC), and Fortis (FTS) raised their quarterly dividends. Visa increased its dividend by 16%, Entergy by 6.3%, Tennant by 4.8%, and Fortis by 4%. Visa's yield is 0.67%, Fortis's is 4.36%. Each company's financial health and growth prospects vary, with Visa and Fortis showing strong coverage and long histories of increases.