Mastercard Incorporated - MA STOCK NEWS

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) will host a virtual Investment Community Meeting on November 10, 2021, starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The meeting will last around three hours, featuring updates on the company's strategy, products, and business initiatives from senior management. Interested parties can register for the event and access the live webcast at investor.mastercard.com. A replay will be available for 30 days, and presentation slides will be posted after the meeting.

Mastercard's latest report, Recovery Insights: Small Business Reset, highlights the post-pandemic recovery of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across 19 global markets. As of August 2021, SMB sales increased by 4.5% year-to-date compared to 2020, with e-commerce sales surging 31.4%. Key findings reveal that SMBs in business districts faced a 33% drop in spending compared to 2019, while residential areas saw an 8% increase. Despite challenges, the report notes a significant rise in new SMB formations, with one-third more retailers launched in 2020 than in 2019.

Mastercard SpendingPulse reports consistent growth in U.S. retail sales, with a year-over-year increase of 5.4% in September 2021, and 11.5% up from 2019. E-commerce sales rose 11.5% YOY and 72.4% over two years. Discretionary spending showed strong growth in sectors like restaurants and apparel, highlighting a recovery in consumer spending as the holiday season approaches. The data reflects aggregate sales in Mastercard's network but does not indicate the company's direct financial performance.

Mastercard has launched its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) program named Mastercard Installments in the U.S., Australia, and the UK to meet growing consumer demand for flexible payment options. This program allows consumers to pay through interest-free installments while providing merchants and banks seamless integration into the Mastercard network. Key partnerships include Barclays, Fifth Third, and SoFi. The initiative aims to enhance consumer choice and security, leveraging Mastercard's extensive acceptance network and promoting responsible lending practices.

Mastercard has launched Strive, a global initiative with an initial commitment of $25 million to enhance the financial resilience and growth of small businesses worldwide. The program aims to assist over five million micro and small enterprises by providing access to digital tools and resources for their recovery post-pandemic. Strive will focus on supporting vulnerable businesses, including women and minority-owned ones, across various regions. This initiative complements Mastercard's broader commitment to financial inclusion, aiming to integrate one billion people and 50 million small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) announced the retirement of Executive Chairman Ajay Banga, effective December 31, 2021. Merit Janow, currently the Lead Independent Director, has been elected as the new non-executive Independent Chair starting January 1, 2022. This transition is part of a strategy initiated in February 2020, aimed at ensuring seamless leadership continuity. Janow brings extensive expertise in international economic law and technology to the role. Banga expressed gratitude for his time at Mastercard, while both Janow and CEO Michael Miebach highlighted the company's readiness for future growth.

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 44 cents per share. This dividend will be paid on November 9, 2021 to shareholders on record as of October 8, 2021. The announcement reflects the company’s commitment to returning value to its shareholders while continuing its mission to enhance the digital economy.