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PayPal Holdings PYPL stock has plunged 8.6% in the past three months, weighed down by weaker guidance, macroeconomic uncertainty and heightened competition in the digital payments space.

Rivalry in the digital payments space remains intense, with payment giants Visa Inc. V and Mastercard Incorporated MA continuing to expand their capabilities and presence across digital commerce, posing a growing challenge to PayPal. Visa stock has gained 5.6%, while Mastercard stock has fallen 2% in three months.

Investors are now questioning whether PayPal’s struggles represent a deeper problem or an opportunity to buy into a long-term recovery story. Let’s delve deeper into this.Zacks Investment Research

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Why Do PYPL Shares Fall?

Although PayPal’s online branded checkout total payment volume (TPV) growth improved in the first quarter of 2026, increasing 2% on a currency-neutral basis from the prior quarter, management expects growth to remain subdued. For full-year 2026, PayPal is guiding online branded checkout TPV growth to be slightly positive to low single digits, reflecting a cautious outlook despite early signs of stabilization in the business.

In the second quarter of 2026, the company expects low-single-digit revenue growth on a currency-neutral basis, a low single-digit or approximately 3% decline in TM$, a low single-digit or approximately 2% decline in TM$ excluding interest, and a decline of high single digits or approximately 9% in non-GAAP EPS. The company reiterated 2026 guidance, under which TM$ is expected to decline slightly. Non-GAAP EPS is expected range from a low-single-digit decline to slightly positive.

Macroeconomic headwinds and intense competition in the global payments industry make PYPL susceptible to volatility. Additionally, the nature of the business makes it vulnerable to foreign exchange fluctuations.

PayPal’s Strategic Partnership & Next-Gen Transformations

In May 2026, PayPal signed a multi-year partnership with the Seattle Seahawks to become the team’s Official Fan-to-Fan Payments and exclusive digital ticket payment processing partner. This marks PayPal’s first individual NFL club partnership. The partnership integrates PayPal into Ticketmaster for seamless season-ticket checkout and makes PayPal the presenting partner of the “Seahawks Gameday Experience Program”.

PayPal is expanding its AI-powered commerce initiatives through agentic commerce, enabling autonomous AI assistants to help consumers identify, evaluate and purchase products more efficiently. To strengthen this effort, the company has partnered with Microsoft through Copilot Checkout, OpenAI via ChatGPT and Perplexity through its Perplexity Pro platform, creating smarter, more secure and scalable shopping experiences for both merchants and customers.

Story Continues

PayPal is also making dollar-backed stablecoin, PayPal USD, available in 70 markets worldwide in the PayPal account. It enables users to send funds globally with faster settlement and lower cost than traditional payment methods.

PayPal’s Venmo Drives Growth

Venmo continues to strengthen its position as a leading digital payments platform among younger and digitally native consumers. As adoption of Venmo for everyday purchases increases, it is becoming a more meaningful contributor to PayPal’s overall revenue mix. In the first quarter of 2026, Venmo’s TPV grew 14% year over year, accelerating from the prior quarter and reaching a new record level. The performance marked the sixth straight quarter of double-digit TPV growth.

The platform also continues to expand its scale, with more than 100 million active accounts. In March 2026, Venmo announced its largest expansion since launch, enabling global peer-to-peer payments through PayPal’s network. Venmo users can now send and receive money with hundreds of millions of PayPal customers across 90 markets, significantly broadening the platform's international reach and addressable market.

PayPal Shares Trading Cheap

However, with the decline, PayPal shares are trading cheaply, as suggested by the Value Score of A. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, PYPL stock is trading at 7.48X compared with the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry’s 16.72X.

The stock is also cheaper than competitors, including Visa and Mastercard. Shares of Visa and Mastercard are currently trading at P/E ratios of 22.32X and 23.21X, respectively.Zacks Investment Research

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PYPL’s Estimate Revision Remains Unchanged

For full-year 2026, PayPal’s estimate revision remains unchanged. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PYPL’s 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $5.30 over the past two months.Zacks Investment Research

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How to Play the PYPL Stock?

PayPal's strategic partnerships, transformation initiatives and Venmo expansion provide solid grounds for optimism in its recovery path. The stock trades at a significant discount compared to its industry multiples and competitors such as Visa and Mastercard, presenting a compelling entry opportunity into this global payment leader.

However, short-term challenges like macroeconomic uncertainty and rising competition, along with weaker 2026 guidance, remain concerns. PYPL’s strong fundamentals and growth initiatives support patience. Therefore, it is better to wait before adding this stock to the portfolio, while long term investors who already have it, should hold.

PayPal currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – June 12, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Mastercard Inc. MA, Seagate Technology Holdings plc STX, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ISRG, The Monarch Cement Co. MCEM and Canterbury Park Holding Corp. CPHC.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for MasterCard, Seagate & Intuitive Surgical

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Mastercard Inc., Seagate Technology Holdings plc and Intuitive Surgical, Inc., as well as two micro-cap stocks The Monarch Cement Co. and Canterbury Park Holding Corp. The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.

These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of today's research reports here >>>

Ahead of Wall Street

The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market's open and attempts to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.

You can read today's AWS here >>> PPI Inflation +6.5% YoY: More Questions than Answers

Today's Featured Research Reports

Shares of Mastercard have declined -16.6% over the past year against the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry's decline of -27.1%. The company's rebates and incentives are rising with new and renewed deals, and management expects operating expenses to keep growing as it funds safety, security, digital and B2B initiatives. Geopolitical disruption is weighing on cross-border travel. Valuation remains elevated, supporting a Neutral view.

Nevertheless, Mastercard's scale and brand strength continue to support steady payment network growth, helped by stable consumer and business spending and higher transaction activity. Cross-border and contactless adoption remain key long-term drivers, and value-added services keep diversifying revenue through cybersecurity, analytics and digital authentication.

Story Continues

Partnerships and targeted acquisitions also extend reach into new payment flows, including stablecoin infrastructure. Share repurchases and dividends remain supported.

(You can read the full research report on Mastercard here >>>)

Seagate's shares have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry over the past year (+567% vs. +215.5%). The company is well poised to gain from AI-led storage demand, a robust technology roadmap anchored in Mozaic and HAMR and disciplined execution focused on converting demand into profitable growth and long-term value creation.

Cloud drives most data center revenue, with Mozaic shipments reaching 75% of top cloud customers, and full qualification expected in the ongoing quarter. It expects stronger FCF throughout 2026, driven by steady demand, efficiency gains and disciplined spending.

Management raised its long-term outlook, now expecting at least 20% annual revenue growth over the next few years, driven by strong cloud demand and continued hyperscaler investments in AI infrastructure, with the March quarter marking the tenth straight period of cloud-led revenue growth. Fiscal 2026 capex is expected to stay within 4%-6% of sales. However, high debt and stiff rivalry hurt it.

(You can read the full research report on Seagate here >>>)

Shares of Intuitive Surgical have underperformed the Zacks Medical - Instruments industry over the past year (-5.4% vs. -20.1%). The company reported first quarter 2026 results that extended its multi-year procedure and revenue trajectory, supported by higher system placements and a larger installed base.

Da Vinci procedures grew in the mid-teens, while Ion procedures grew much faster, reinforcing the shift toward recurring instruments and accessories revenue. Management's 2026 outlook still calls for healthy da Vinci procedure growth, but it embeds tariff-related gross margin drag and expense growth as the company invests in capacity and digital capabilities.

Intuitive Surgical also moved to a direct distribution model in parts of Europe and continued share repurchases, which reduced cash but keeps the balance sheet flexible. Outside the United States, hospital budget constraints and tender timing can disrupt capital purchases

(You can read the full research report on Intuitive Surgical here >>>)

Monarch Cement's shares have outperformed the Zacks Building Products - Concrete and Aggregates industry over the past year (+22.2% vs. +9.9%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $1.06 billion has its investment case anchored by its vertically integrated Humboldt operations, which provide long-term access to key raw materials, support cost stability and enhance operational resilience.

The RMCMO joint venture offers exposure to downstream ready-mix markets while improving capital efficiency and strengthening commercial integration. Ongoing investments in plant modernization and equipment upgrades are expected to improve reliability, efficiency, and asset longevity, reinforcing competitiveness in a commoditized industry.

The company has also demonstrated meaningful operating leverage, converting stronger demand into improved profitability through disciplined cost management. Supported by a solid balance sheet, MCEM continues to balance reinvestment in growth initiatives with shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases.

(You can read the full research report on Monarch Cement here >>>)

Shares of Canterbury Park have declined -4.2% over the past year against the Zacks Gaming industry's decline of -15%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $81.27 million has an investment case centered on its transition from a gaming-focused operator to a diversified mixed-use destination through Canterbury Commons, with residential, entertainment, and commercial assets driving long-term traffic and monetization.

Joint ventures and tax-increment financing provide capital-efficient development and recurring cash flow optionality, while experiential venues and strong leasing trends support ecosystem value. A debt-free balance sheet enhances flexibility.

However, the core casino business faces competitive pressure, weaker monetization, and rising promotional spend, compressing margins. Cost inflation and limited operating leverage further weigh on profitability. Additionally, joint-venture losses, contingent liabilities, and softness in pari-mutuel operations introduce ongoing earnings volatility and reliance on external funding mechanisms.

(You can read the full research report on Canterbury Park here >>>)

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the Good Stocks to Invest in Now. Over the past few days, the stock has climbed around 2% following a preliminary judicial approval for a landmark $38 billion swipe-fee settlement.

​Recently, on June 9, Reuters reported that a US federal judge granted preliminary approval to a revised $38 billion settlement between Visa, Mastercard, and merchants over allegations that the card networks charged excessive payment processing fees. The report explained that the litigation goes back to 2005 when merchants accused Visa, Mastercard, and banks of conspiring to violate U.S. antitrust laws through the collection of swipe fees. Previously, in 2024, a $30 billion settlement was rejected by a different judge who deemed the evidence insufficient.

​According to the new deal, both Mastercard and Visa have agreed to lower swipe fees by 0.1% for five years, while standard consumer rates would be capped at 1.25% for eight years. Moreover, merchants will now have more flexibility to impose surcharges and could choose whether to accept cards across three distinct categories, including commercial, premium consumer, and standard consumer cards.

​Reuters noted that Judge Brian Cogan acknowledged that many objections had merit but emphasized the standard was not perfection; the settlement represents the best achievable outcome given the risks of going to trial.

Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA) operates in the payments industry and is one of the leading payment processors for everyday consumers, financial institutions, governments, and businesses. The company is headquartered in New York, United States.

While we acknowledge the potential of MA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 9 Most Undervalued Foreign Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Most Undervalued US Stocks According to Hedge Funds.

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Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the Good Stocks to Invest in Now. On June 3, Reuters reported that Cuba’s central bank has announced it will suspend all Visa and Mastercard transactions starting June 6, following the collapse of a key processing partnership triggered by US sanctions.

​The report noted that the foreign partner that previously handled credit card processing for Cuba decided to limit operations after a US executive order signed on May 1. The order significantly broadened sanctions on commerce with the island. This left Cuba unable to receive payments through internationally recognized card networks, including Visa Inc. (NYSE:V).

​The executive order was signed by President Trump as part of a policy to pressure Cuba’s government. Credit card transactions had historically been processed through a foreign bank and Fincimex, a financial arm of GAESA, which is a military-run conglomerate that the US accuses of hoarding profits from key industries like tourism, remittances, and logistics for the benefit of Cuba’s military and elite. However, Cuba has denied these accusations. The sanctions have triggered a wider exit of foreign businesses from Cuba, including hotel companies, airlines, and shipping firms.

​Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) remains one of the good stocks to invest in now. The Street is bullish on Visa as 93% of the 30 analysts covering the stock maintain a Buy rating on the shares. The 12-month average price target of analysts suggests more than 23% upside from the current levels.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a payment technology company operating in the United States and internationally. It operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that handles the clearing, authorization, and settlement of payment transactions. The company offers its services under different brands such as PLUS, Visa, V PAY, Visa Electron, and Interlink.

While we acknowledge the potential of V as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 9 Most Undervalued Foreign Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Most Undervalued US Stocks According to Hedge Funds.

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Die Zacks Research Daily präsentiert die besten Forschungsergebnisse unseres Analystenteams. Heute werden neue Forschungsberichte zu 16 wichtigen Aktien vorgestellt, darunter Mastercard Inc., Seagate Technology Holdings plc und Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

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Mastercard Incorporated MA is expanding its push into AI-powered commerce with the launch of Agent Pay for Machines (AP4M), a payment service designed to support transactions executed by AI agents and machines. More than 30 industry participants are supporting the adoption of the platform. Designed for the emerging machine-to-machine economy, the service enables AI agents to securely execute automated transactions and interact with other services on behalf of businesses.

AP4M builds on Mastercard's Agent Pay program launched in 2025. The platform credentials AI agents through a new Verifiable Intent framework, enforces spending controls and authorization rules, and supports settlement through cards, bank accounts and stablecoins. To enhance transparency, human-granted permissions for AI agents will initially be recorded on the Polygon blockchain.

Mastercard envisions a future where AI agents buy and sell services on behalf of businesses, transacting continuously at machine speed. These agents could execute chains of transactions, including microtransactions worth fractions of a cent. AI agents are evolving beyond decision-support tools and can increasingly coordinate services and complete transactions automatically. As payments become more embedded and automated, infrastructure capable of handling large volumes of low-value transactions will become increasingly important.

The launch underscores Mastercard's efforts to prepare its network for growing automated payment activity. By enabling transactions across multiple payment rails, the company is positioning itself to capitalize on the increasing adoption of AI-powered commerce and machine-driven transactions. As AI-driven transactions increase, the platform could help Mastercard expand the reach of its network into new payment flows.

How Are Competitors Faring?

Some of MA’s competitors in the payments space like Visa Inc. V and PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL are also advancing their AI-commerce capabilities.

Visa recently expanded its Visa Intelligent Commerce initiative, enabling AI agents to securely shop and complete purchases on behalf of consumers using tokenized credentials, spending controls and authentication tools. Visa has also partnered with OpenAI to integrate Visa's payment capabilities into ChatGPT-powered shopping experiences.

PayPal launched Agentic Commerce Services, a suite of agent-enabled payment, catalog and order-management tools that enables AI agents to discover products, facilitate checkout and complete purchases across merchant networks. The offering is designed to help merchants participate in AI-driven shopping experiences while leveraging PayPal's payment infrastructure.

Story Continues

Mastercard’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates

Over the past year, MA’s shares have lost 17% compared with the industry’s decline of 26.7%.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.34, above the industry average of 15.91. MA carries a Value Score of D.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s 2026 earnings implies 15.2% growth from the year-ago period’s level.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Mastercard currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Visa Inc. (V) : Free Stock Analysis Report

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Visa Inc. V is reinforcing its position at the center of the evolving payments landscape through a series of artificial intelligence, stablecoin and tokenization initiatives unveiled at its Payments Forum 2026. It announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to enable secure Visa payments within AI-powered commerce experiences. As AI agents increasingly assist consumers with purchasing decisions and transaction execution, V is working to ensure its network remains embedded in the next generation of commerce flows.

The OpenAI partnership strengthens Visa's Intelligent Commerce platform by combining the company's payment network, tokenization technology and security capabilities with OpenAI. It is designed to allow AI agents to initiate transactions while operating within user-defined controls such as spending limits, merchant restrictions and approval requirements. If adoption accelerates, the collaboration could create new transaction opportunities for V while reinforcing trust and security in AI-driven commerce.

V is also expanding the infrastructure supporting this emerging ecosystem. New offerings such as Agent Score, Agentic Directory and the Large Transaction Model are designed to improve merchant readiness, establish trusted participants and enhance fraud detection. It is also enriching its token technology with additional identity and behavioral signals, enabling smarter authorization decisions while reducing friction and false declines. These capabilities further differentiate Visa's network as commerce becomes increasingly digital and automated.

Beyond AI, V continues to advance its stablecoin strategy through expanded settlement programs, tokenized deposits and stablecoin-linked card initiatives. By investing simultaneously in AI-driven commerce and next-generation settlement infrastructure, Visa appears to be widening its competitive moat and creating additional avenues for long-term transaction and revenue growth.

How Are Competitors Faring?

Some of V's competitors in the fintech space include Mastercard Incorporated MA and PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL.

Mastercard recently expanded its Agent Pay strategy with the launch of Agent Pay for Machines, a platform designed for machine-to-machine and AI-agent payments. The solution enables autonomous agents to execute, authorize and settle transactions at machine speed, positioning Mastercard to support emerging AI-driven business models and automated commerce ecosystems.

PayPal is investing in agentic commerce through its Agentic Commerce Services, which includes Agent Ready and Store Sync. These capabilities allow AI-powered assistants to support product discovery and purchase decisions. The effort leverages PayPal's extensive merchant and wallet ecosystem, potentially creating new opportunities to drive payment volume and user engagement.

Story Continues

Visa's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates

Over the past year, shares of Visa have declined 13% compared with the industry's 26.7% fall.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.60, above the industry average of 15.91. V carries a Value Score of D.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2026 earnings implies a 14.1% jump from the year-ago period.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Visa stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Visa Inc. (V) : Free Stock Analysis Report

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Visa (NYSE:V) and OpenAI are expanding their push into AI-powered commerce, allowing artificial-intelligence agents to make online purchases after users give approval. Under the expanded pact, Visa's payment services will be built into OpenAI's platform, giving online retailers a way to accept agent-driven transactions. A customer could ask an AI agent to pay a bill or buy everyday items such as paper towels, showing how payments could possibly move from manual checkout toward AI-assisted execution.

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with APLD. Is V fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator.

Visa framed the move as a major shift in digital commerce, with Chief Product and Strategy Officer Jack Forestell saying AI will transform commerce more profoundly than the internet or mobile technology. The company said its focus is making AI-agent transactions trusted, secure, and seamless as agents become more active participants in the economy. Visa and OpenAI also plan to develop enterprise applications for AI-driven payments, suggesting the partnership could extend beyond consumer shopping into business use cases.

For investors, the announcement points to a payments industry preparing for a new phase of online spending. Visa previously announced AI collaborations with Anthropic and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) last year ahead of this week's official launch, while Mastercard (NYSE:MA) and PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) are exploring similar efforts. Visa's Oliver Jenkyn said in December that 2026 will be the year for AI-assisted shopping, though the more advanced stage of agentic commerce, where agents fully complete search and purchase for consumers, may take more time.

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Kwik Payments utilizes ACI's Payments Orchestration Platform to help merchants reduce checkout friction and drive conversion uplifts of more than 20%

OMAHA, Neb. & JOHANNESBURG, June 11, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), an original innovator in global payments technology, today announced that Kwik Payments, a South Africa-based payments service provider (PSP), has successfully gone live on the ACI Payments Orchestration Platform, to power the next phase of digital commerce growth across South Africa and the wider African market.

The partnership represents a pivotal milestone in ACI's expansion across Africa, reinforcing its growing footprint supported by an expanding network of merchants, PSPs, and merchant acquirers. Anchored by a strong local presence, ACI's payment orchestration platform streamlines payment processing by seamlessly connecting POS, ATM, and e-commerce channels with leading global card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

"Our ambition is to help shape the future of digital commerce in Africa by giving merchants access to reliable, high-performance and globally competitive payment capabilities," said Eddy Marais, CEO of Kwik Payments. "Partnering with ACI provides us with a proven orchestration foundation that supports our growth strategy, enabling us to scale from South Africa into broader African markets while delivering world-class eCommerce experiences."

By implementing ACI Payments Orchestration Platform, Kwik Payments empowers merchants to seamlessly manage and optimize payments across online, mobile and recurring channels, while intelligently routing transactions across multiple acquirers, payment methods and geographies. Unlike traditional multi-provider implementations that can take months to deploy, merchants can now go live within one to two weeks, accelerating speed to market and reducing operational complexity.

The platform's AI-powered fraud detection evaluates more than 1,000 data points per transaction in real time, strengthening security without compromising customer experiences. Its AI-enabled reporting and reconciliation capabilities reduce manual reconciliation effort by up to 80% while increasing accuracy and efficiency. The seamless and unified payment flows also help address one of the industry's biggest revenue challenges, with overly complex checkouts contributing to cart abandonment rates of up to 70%.

"Africa is one of the fastest-growing digital commerce regions in the world, and South Africa plays a critical role as a gateway for innovation and scale," said Matt Rubin, Head of Merchant, Middle East & Africa, ACI Worldwide. "With ACI's Payments Orchestration Platform, Kwik Payments provides the flexibility and intelligence needed to help African merchants compete on a global stage, while navigating local payment preferences, complexity and growth demands."

Story Continues

As one of Africa's leading digital payments innovation hubs, South Africa continues to see strong demand from merchants for modern, scalable infrastructure that can support diverse payment methods, improve authorization rates and streamline operations. Payment orchestration is becoming a critical enabler, helping merchants to optimize performance and increase customer engagement, while embracing emerging payment methods such as mobile wallets, A2A payments, and digital currencies.

The collaboration between ACI Worldwide and Kwik Payments underscores a shared commitment to advancing Africa's digital economy through enterprise-grade, future-ready payments infrastructure that supports African merchants as they scale regionally and globally with greater agility, resilience, and efficiency.

About ACI Worldwide

ACI Worldwide, an original innovator in global payments technology, delivers transformative software solutions that power intelligent payments orchestration in real time so banks, billers, and merchants can drive growth, while continuously modernizing their payment infrastructures, simply and securely. With 50 years of trusted payments expertise, we combine our global footprint with a local presence to offer enhanced payment experiences to stay ahead of constantly changing payment challenges and opportunities.

© Copyright ACI Worldwide, Inc. 2026

ACI, ACI Worldwide, ACI Payments, Inc., ACI Pay, Speedpay and all ACI product/solution names are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACI Worldwide, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the United States, other countries or both. Other parties' trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

About Kwik Payments

Kwik Payments is a South Africa based payments service provider delivering modern, scalable payment solutions designed for eCommerce growth. Focused on performance, reliability and regional expansion, Kwik Payments aims to provide world class payment orchestration services that empower merchants across South Africa and the broader African marketplace.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260610062114/en/

Contacts

Media Contacts

ACI Worldwide Pierce Rohrmann | Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs | pierce.rohrmann@aciworldwide.com Lyn Kwek | Communications and Corporate Affairs Director | lyn.kwek@aciworldwide.com

Kwik Payments Eddy Marais | Founder and CEO | media@kwik.co.za

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Looking back on credit card stocks’ Q1 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Visa (NYSE:V) and its peers.

Credit card companies facilitate electronic payments and extend revolving credit to consumers. Growth comes from increasing digital payment adoption, cross-border transaction growth, and value-added services for cardholders and merchants. Challenges include regulatory scrutiny of fees and practices, competition from alternative payment methods, and potential credit losses during economic downturns.

The 6 credit card stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

While some credit card stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.5% since the latest earnings results.

Visa (NYSE:V)

Processing over 829 million transactions daily and connecting billions of cards to 150 million merchant locations worldwide, Visa (NYSE:V) operates one of the world's largest electronic payments networks, facilitating secure money movement across more than 200 countries through its VisaNet processing platform.

Visa reported revenues of $11.23 billion, up 17.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.5%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates.Visa Total Revenue

Visa achieved the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 4.9% since reporting and currently trades at $324.55.

Read why we think that Visa is one of the best credit card stocks, our full report is free.

Best Q1: Bread Financial (NYSE:BFH)

Formerly known as Alliance Data Systems until its 2022 rebranding, Bread Financial (NYSE:BFH) provides credit cards, installment loans, and savings products to consumers while powering branded payment solutions for retailers and merchants.

Bread Financial reported revenues of $1.02 billion, up 4.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and net interest margin estimates.Bread Financial Total Revenue

The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 1.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $94.21.

Is now the time to buy Bread Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: American Express (NYSE:AXP)

Recognizable by its iconic green logo and the slogan "Don't leave home without it," American Express (NYSE:AXP) is a global payments company that issues credit and charge cards, processes merchant transactions, and offers travel and lifestyle benefits to consumers and businesses.

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American Express reported revenues of $17.66 billion, up 11.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.1%. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

American Express delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 4.8% since the results and currently trades at $317.06.

Read our full analysis of American Express’s results here.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Powering over 73 million active accounts and partnerships with major brands like Amazon, PayPal, and Lowe's, Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) provides credit cards, installment loans, and banking products through partnerships with retailers, healthcare providers, and digital platforms.

Synchrony Financial reported revenues of $3.70 billion, flat year on year. This result came in 2.4% below analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a slower quarter as it also logged a miss of analysts’ net interest margin and revenue estimates.

Synchrony Financial had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 7.5% since reporting and currently trades at $72.72.

Read our full, actionable report on Synchrony Financial here, it’s free.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA)

Recognizable by its iconic "Priceless" advertising campaign that has run in over 120 countries, Mastercard (NYSE:MA) operates a global payments network that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and businesses, enabling electronic transactions and providing payment solutions.

Mastercard reported revenues of $8.40 billion, up 15.8% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates.

The stock is down 5.9% since reporting and currently trades at $494.48.

Read our full, actionable report on Mastercard here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

StockStory’s analyst team — all seasoned professional investors — uses quantitative analysis and automation to deliver market-beating insights faster and with higher quality.

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