Mastercard adjusted earnings reach $5.31 per share, revenue hits $9.8 billion
Key Facts
Mastercard reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $5.31 per share and revenue of $9.8 billion, topping analyst estimates of $5.17 per share and $9.66 billion in revenue, according to Investing.com coverage. Adjusted net income rose 17% to $4.7 billion, compared with $4.0 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Chief Executive Michael Miebach said the company delivered "another strong quarter for Mastercard, with net revenue growth of 14%." The results came as the company’s revenue grew and activity indicators across its network increased. Following the announcement, the stock rose 2.7% on October 29, 2026, according to the same coverage.
Revenue growth came from the network and services segments, but value-added services and solutions recorded the faster pace. Payments network revenue rose 11% in the third quarter, while revenue from value-added services and solutions increased 19%, according to Investing.com. Miebach said revenue growth reflected more Mastercard cards in customers’ hands, alongside global reach and innovation. He pointed to the development of agentic commerce and the launch of the new Global Money platform through BVNK. These factors place the expansion of value-added services alongside core processing activity as distinct revenue drivers during the period.
Usage indicators showed growth in payment volumes and transactions during the period. Gross dollar volume rose 7% to $3.0 trillion on a local currency basis, cross-border payment volume increased 11%, and the number of switched transactions rose 9%, according to Investing.com. Cross-border payment growth reflects faster expansion than overall volume growth among the reported indicators. Mastercard and Maestro cards issued to customers totaled 3.8 billion as of September 30, 2026. Miebach linked revenue growth to the expanding cardholder base and the company’s global reach.
The adjusted operating margin improved as operating expenses increased. The margin was 60.5% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 59.8% in the same period a year earlier, according to Investing.com. Meanwhile, adjusted operating expenses rose 12% to $3.9 billion. The coverage said acquisitions and divestitures added one percentage point to the growth in those expenses. The figures show the margin widening despite higher expenses, while adjusted net income rose 17% year over year to $4.7 billion.
Mastercard is scheduled to hold its third-quarter earnings call on October 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, according to its investor relations page. The call follows the results announcement, in which adjusted earnings and revenue exceeded analyst expectations. Reported results included growth in network and value-added services revenue, as well as increases in payment volumes and transactions. They also showed the adjusted operating margin widening compared with the same period a year earlier. The call provides a specific time to discuss third-quarter results with investors.