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Mastercard Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose on network and services: Net revenue was $9.3 billion, up 14%, or 12% currency-neutral. Management attributed the increase to payment network and value-added services and solutions growth. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $4.97: Net income was $4.4 billion and GAAP diluted EPS was $4.97, up 22% from $4.07. Adjusted diluted EPS was $5.04, up 21%. Source
  • Rebates and incentives rose 22%: Payment network rebates and incentives increased 22%, or 20% currency-neutral, from higher key drivers and new and renewed deals. Source
  • Value-added services up 20%: Value-added services and solutions net revenue rose 20%, or 18% currency-neutral. The company said acquisitions and dispositions had a minimal decrease. Source
  • Gross dollar volume up 8%: Gross dollar volume rose 8% in local currency to $2.9 trillion, and purchase volume grew 10% on a local currency basis. Source
  • Operating expense growth led by G&A: Total operating expenses were $3.7 billion, up 10%. Adjusted operating expenses rose 11%, or 10% currency-neutral. Source
  • Operating margin rose 1.5 points: GAAP operating margin was 60.2%, up 1.5 points; adjusted operating margin was 61.1%, up 1.2 points. Currency-neutral adjusted margin rose 0.8 points. Source
  • Second-quarter buybacks and dividends: Mastercard repurchased 9.8 million shares for $4.9 billion and paid $771 million in dividends in the second quarter. Source

“We delivered above expectations with net revenue growth at 14% year-over-year, or 12% on a currency-neutral basis in the second quarter.”

Michael Miebach, Mastercard CEO

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Management cites new partnerships in Mexico and the UAE. The Q1 release does not name them. Source
  • New: From Q2 2026, operating performance tables include Venezuela cross-border activity, as applicable. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue rose on network and services: Net revenue was $9.3 billion, up 14%, or 12% currency-neutral. Management attributed the increase to payment network and value-added services and solutions growth. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $4.97: Net income was $4.4 billion and GAAP diluted EPS was $4.97, up 22% from $4.07. Adjusted diluted EPS was $5.04, up 21%. Source
  • Year-to-date net revenue up 15%: Year-to-date net revenue was $17.7 billion, up 15%, or 12% currency-neutral. Year-to-date diluted EPS was $9.32, up 22%. Source

Payment network revenue and rebates

  • Payment network revenue up 10%: Payment network net revenue was up 10%, or 8% currency-neutral, driven by gross dollar volume, cross-border volume and switched transactions. Source
  • Rebates and incentives rose 22%: Payment network rebates and incentives increased 22%, or 20% currency-neutral, from higher key drivers and new and renewed deals. Source
  • Year-to-date network revenue up 11%: Year-to-date payment network net revenue rose 11%, or 8% currency-neutral. Year-to-date rebates and incentives rose 22%, or 19% currency-neutral. Source

“These results reflect our role in powering more ways to shop, pay and do business.”

Michael Miebach, Mastercard CEO

Value-added services and solutions

  • Value-added services up 20%: Value-added services and solutions net revenue rose 20%, or 18% currency-neutral. The company said acquisitions and dispositions had a minimal decrease. Source
  • Growth drivers named for services: Management named security solutions, consumer acquisition and engagement, digital and authentication, and business and market insights as the drivers. Source
  • Year-to-date services revenue up 21%: Year-to-date value-added services and solutions net revenue rose 21%, or 18% currency-neutral. Source

Volumes and regional activity

  • Gross dollar volume up 8%: Gross dollar volume rose 8% in local currency to $2.9 trillion, and purchase volume grew 10% on a local currency basis. Source
  • Latin America growth highest: Latin America gross dollar volume rose 24.4% in US dollars and 13.9% in local currency, the highest growth of the regions shown. Source
  • United States growth slower: United States gross dollar volume rose 5.5%, against 9.1% local currency growth for worldwide less United States. Source
  • Cross-border and switched volumes grew: Cross-border volume grew 12% and switched transactions grew 9%, both on a local currency basis. Source

Operating costs and special items

  • Operating expense growth led by G&A: Total operating expenses were $3.7 billion, up 10%. Adjusted operating expenses rose 11%, or 10% currency-neutral. Source
  • Restructuring charge in first quarter: Year-to-date special items included a $202 million pre-tax restructuring charge intended to enable reinvestment supporting long-term growth. Source
  • Year-to-date litigation provisions lower: Year-to-date litigation provisions were lower than a year earlier, partly offsetting higher general and administrative expenses that included the restructuring charge. Source

Margins, tax and other income

  • Operating margin rose 1.5 points: GAAP operating margin was 60.2%, up 1.5 points; adjusted operating margin was 61.1%, up 1.2 points. Currency-neutral adjusted margin rose 0.8 points. Source
  • Tax rate lower on discrete benefits: Effective tax rate was 20.0%, versus 20.8%, reflecting partially offsetting impacts including discrete tax benefits in the periods. Source
  • Other income favorable by $4 million: Other income (expense) was $4 million more favorable than a year earlier. Excluding equity investment gains and losses, it was $9 million more favorable. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Second-quarter buybacks and dividends: Mastercard repurchased 9.8 million shares for $4.9 billion and paid $771 million in dividends in the second quarter. Source
  • Quarter-to-date repurchases and authority: Through July 27, 1.3 million shares were repurchased for $0.7 billion, leaving $7.8 billion under approved programs. Source
  • Year-to-date operating cash and financing: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $6.8 billion versus $7.0 billion. Treasury stock purchases were $8.9 billion and debt proceeds were $5.6 billion. Source

Strategy and agentic commerce

  • Shaping future commerce with agentic: The CEO said the company is unlocking distinct capabilities and shaping future commerce through its agentic payment work. Source
  • Q1 agentic and stablecoin plans: The Q1 release said the company was advancing agentic commerce with Agent Pay and expanding stablecoin solutions through a planned BVNK acquisition.
  • Q1 CEO described diversified company: The Q1 release carried a CEO statement describing the company as diversified and future-ready, with net revenue growth in the quarter.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross dollar volume (Q2 2026) Source$2.9 trillion, up 8% local currency
Purchase volume growth, worldwide (Q2 2026) Source9.6% local currency, $2,417 billion
Purchase transactions, worldwide (Q2 2026) Source57,096 million, up 9.2%
Cross-border volume growth (Q2 2026) Source12%, local currency
Switched transactions growth (Q2 2026) Source9%
Cards issued, Mastercard and Maestro Source3.7 billion as of June 30, 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Q2 pre-tax charges of $82 million include a legal provision tied to ATM non-discrimination rule surcharge complaints. Source
  • Financial: Equity investment losses were $68 million pre-tax year-to-date, mainly unrealized fair value adjustments on equity securities. Source
  • External: Currency reduced Q2 adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS growth by 3 percentage points each. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.