Mastercard Incorporated - MA STOCK NEWS

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) will announce its Q4 and full-year 2020 earnings on January 28, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. ET. A conference call will follow to discuss the results, which will be accessible via its investor relations website. Investors can join through various dial-in options, and a replay will be available for 30 days. Mastercard aims to enhance the digital economy's inclusivity and security, connecting people in over 210 countries.

Walgreens is enhancing its financial services by partnering with Synchrony and Mastercard to launch credit and prepaid debit cards. These offerings will integrate with the myWalgreens loyalty program, providing customers with cash rewards and additional benefits at over 9,000 Walgreens locations and beyond. The cards aim to boost customer engagement and create new revenue streams, with features like contactless payments and health-focused rewards. The new financial products are expected to be available in the second half of this year, reflecting Walgreens' commitment to improving health and wellness payment solutions.

Mastercard has launched its first live Cloud Tap on Phone pilot in collaboration with NMI, Global Payments Inc., and Computer Engineering Group (CEG). This innovative payment solution allows businesses to accept contactless payments using smartphones, simplifying point-of-sale technology. In Q3 2020, contactless transactions surged to 41% of in-person purchases globally. The Cloud POS technology enhances security and reduces costs by hosting key software components in the cloud, promoting scalability. Mastercard aims to accelerate digital payments and expand Cloud Tap on Phone pilots across various global markets in 2021.

Mastercard SpendingPulse reports a 3.0% increase in holiday retail sales (excluding automotive and gasoline) from October 11 to December 24, 2020, with online sales up 49.0% compared to 2019. E-commerce now accounts for 19.7% of total retail sales, up from 13.4% in 2019. Notable sector performances include a 16.2% rise in home furniture and furnishings, while apparel suffered a 19.1% decline. Despite Black Friday sales dropping 16.1%, the season marked a strong rebound in consumer spending.

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has announced a 10% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, now set at 44 cents per share, payable on February 9, 2021. This follows a dividend of 40 cents per share. Additionally, the Board approved a new $6 billion share repurchase program, which will commence after the current program, which has approximately $3.8 billion remaining. These moves are indicative of Mastercard's commitment to enhancing shareholder value while maintaining its robust market position.

Mastercard has appointed Craig Vosburg as chief product officer and named Linda Kirkpatrick as president of North America, effective January 1, 2021. Vosburg will lead an integrated products and engineering organization focused on enhancing Mastercard's offerings in multi-rail, digital, and B2B payments. Kirkpatrick, previously president of U.S. issuers, will manage customer activities in the U.S. and Canada, overseeing sales and relationship management. These leadership changes aim to strengthen Mastercard's capabilities and align with its strategic goals in the evolving payments landscape.

Mastercard announced the appointment of Richard Verma as Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs. He will manage Mastercard's global public policy and regulatory teams, reporting to Tim Murphy, General Counsel. Verma brings over 25 years of international experience, previously serving as U.S. Ambassador to India and as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. CEO Ajay Banga emphasized Verma's leadership and expertise in geopolitics and international law, which will aid Mastercard in navigating the digital economy.

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) announced that Paul Stoddart, president of New Payments Platforms, will present at the virtual Barclays Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference on December 9, starting at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. This 30-minute discussion will be accessible via live audio webcast, with a replay available for 30 days afterward. Mastercard focuses on creating a digital economy that is inclusive and accessible while providing secure transactions across over 210 countries.

Mastercard, in collaboration with TSYS and Extend, has launched a new mobile virtual card solution allowing corporate cards to be easily integrated into mobile wallets for contactless payments. This innovation addresses the rising demand for secure digital payments, particularly amid the pandemic and the shift to remote work. By utilizing Mastercard Digital Enablement Services, the solution enhances security through tokenization, enabling businesses to efficiently manage employee spending and streamline expense processes.