Mastercard Smashes Q3 Forecasts--Now It's Gunning for a $2 Billion Crypto Deal

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) delivered a solid third quarter, with results that underscored the strength of global spending despite a murky macro backdrop. The company posted adjusted net income of $4 billion, or $4.38 per share, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $4.31 per share. Revenue reached $8.6 billion, also ahead of forecasts. CEO Michael Miebach credited the beat to healthy consumer and business spending alongside the firm's expanding suite of high-margin services, which continue to underpin Mastercard's profitability.

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Management reaffirmed that 2025 net revenue growth should land at the high end of the mid-teens rangea confident signal that Mastercard sees no immediate slowdown in its core engine of transaction volumes. The tone echoed Visa's upbeat earnings earlier in the week, with both companies highlighting resilient spending patterns that could sustain the payments sector's momentum into next year.

Beyond the numbers, Mastercard is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire crypto-infrastructure startup Zero Hash for up to $2 billion, according to Fortune. If sealed, the move would deepen Mastercard's foothold in digital assets at a time when traditional payment rails and blockchain infrastructure are beginning to intersect. For investors, the combination of steady earnings growth and a forward-leaning strategic push into crypto could mark the next chapter in Mastercard's evolution as a modern financial network.

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