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A Big Upgrade for Visa

By Dave Mock – Updated Apr 6, 2017 at 12:03PM

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This bullish call comes from more than just one analyst.

After spending more than a year locked at a mediocre three-star rank, Visa (NYSE: V) has impressed enough top-performing members of our 165,000-strong Motley Fool CAPS community to climb up to four stars. A total of 4,607 members have given their opinion on the payment firm, with many offering analysis and commentary to explain their recent optimism.

Shares of Visa and MasterCard (NYSE: MA) have come under pressure in recent months, as investors attempt to gauge the effects of financial reform efforts on their businesses. Both companies have yet to determine the effects of changing regulations on debit card payments. However, Visa's CEO recently said he doesn't expect changes to affect the growth of electronic payments in the U.S., and predicts only a modest earnings impact from the final rules.

Meanwhile, Visa put up strong numbers in its second quarter, showing domestic and international growth. Revenue jumped 23% in the quarter, while operating income grew 38%. While credit card issuers Citigroup (NYSE: C), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) have begun to show improvement in their dangerously high credit card payment delinquency rates, Visa and MasterCard have been insulated from troubled consumer debt, since they earn money from transaction fees instead of lending to consumers.

In addition to Visa's solid balance sheet, CAPS members also like Visa's growing global competitive position. The company's recent purchase of online payment provider CyberSource should help it compete with eBay's (Nasdaq: EBAY) PayPal, which handled about 16.5% of U.S. e-commerce transaction last year. Many investors see little threat from AT&T's and Verizon's plans to launch a mobile payment system with Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS), even though mobile payments have really caught on in some regions of the world. With Visa's bullish outlook for revenue and earnings growth, most CAPS members like the direction the company is headed.

Do you think Visa deserves its elevated status? Add your thoughts in the comments box below on this page, or head over to CAPS to rate the company and check out all the information and opinions the community offers, absolutely free.

Always looking ahead, the Motley Fool Rule Breakers service is picking the next generation's big winners today. To see what other rule-breaking stocks David Gardner is recommending now, take a free 30-day trial.

Fool contributor Dave Mock loves to upgrade his ice cream with chocolate and whipped cream. He owns no shares of companies mentioned here. Discover Financial Services is an Inside Value recommendation. eBay is a Stock Advisor selection. Motley Fool Options has recommended a bull call spread position on eBay. The Fool's disclosure policy is better than the cherry on top.

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Stocks Mentioned

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Quote
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPM
$109.14 (-1.86%) $-2.07
Visa Inc. Stock Quote
Visa Inc.
V
$183.96 (-0.98%) $-1.83
Mastercard Incorporated Stock Quote
Mastercard Incorporated
MA
$293.58 (-1.60%) $-4.78
Citigroup Inc. Stock Quote
Citigroup Inc.
C
$44.26 (-2.90%) $-1.32
Bank of America Corporation Stock Quote
Bank of America Corporation
BAC
$31.73 (-2.37%) $0.77
eBay Inc. Stock Quote
eBay Inc.
EBAY
$38.19 (-0.29%) $0.11
Discover Financial Services Stock Quote
Discover Financial Services
DFS
$93.73 (-1.31%) $-1.24

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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