Visa Inc.NYSE: V

Q4 2026 Earnings Release

· Issued by Visa Inc.

Summary by 6ix AI

Visa, a digital payments network, reported net revenue of $12.1 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2026, up 13%. GAAP net income, under standard US accounting rules, was $6.0 billion or $3.19 per share, up 18% and 22% respectively.

Key details

  • For the fiscal full-year ended September 30, 2026, net revenue was $45.9 billion, up 15% (14% excluding the effect of currency fluctuations). GAAP net income was $23.5 billion or $12.32 per share. Non-GAAP net income, which excludes certain items, was $25.3 billion or $13.27 per share.
  • Fourth-quarter non-GAAP net income was $6.6 billion or $3.48 per share. GAAP results included a $469 million litigation provision (money set aside) tied to the interchange multidistrict litigation case and $282 million for donating investments to the Visa Foundation.
  • For the three months ended September 30, 2026, processed transactions were 74.2 billion, up 10%. Excluding the effect of currency fluctuations, payments volume rose 9% and total cross-border volume rose 14%.
  • The board raised the quarterly cash dividend to $0.780 per class A share, payable December 1, 2026 to holders of record as of November 10, 2026. In the fourth quarter Visa repurchased approximately 11 million class A shares for $4.0 billion. It had $24.4 billion left for buybacks as of September 30, 2026.
  • On August 3, 2026, Visa said it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire BioCatch, a provider of fraud intelligence, for $2.4 billion in cash.

What’s still pending

  • The BioCatch acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.
  • The BioCatch acquisition is expected to close by the end of the fiscal second quarter of 2027.

6ix AI wrote this summary from the release below and checked it against the release.

Visa Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2026 Results

San Francisco, October 27, 2026 - Visa (NYSE: V) Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results:

  • GAAP net income of $6.0B or $3.19 per share and non-GAAP net income of $6.6B or $3.48 per share

  • Net revenue of $12.1B, an increase of 13% on a nominal and constant-dollar basis

    Fiscal Full-Year Results:

  • GAAP net income of $23.5B or $12.32 per share and non-GAAP net income of $25.3B or $13.27 per share

  • Net revenue of $45.9B, an increase of 15%, or 14% on a constant-dollar basis

    Other Highlights:

  • Fiscal fourth quarter growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions remained strong

  • Share repurchases and dividends of $5.2B and $25.6B for fiscal fourth quarter and full-year, respectively

  • The board of directors increased Visa's quarterly cash dividend 16% to $0.780 per share

Q4 2026

Full-Year 2026

In billions, except percentages and per share data. % change is calculated over the comparable prior-year period.

USD

% Change

USD

% Change

Income Statement Summary

Net Revenue $12.1 13% $45.9 15%

GAAP Net Income $6.0 18% $23.5 17%

GAAP Earnings Per Share $3.19 22% $12.32 21%

Non-GAAP Net Income(1) $6.6 13% $25.3 12% Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share(1) $3.48 17% $13.27 16%

(1) Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further details and a reconciliation of the GAAP to

non-GAAP measures presented.

Key Business Drivers

Ryan McInerney, Chief Executive Officer, Visa, commented on the results:

YoY increase / (decrease), volume in constant dollars Q

4 2026 Full-Year 2026

Payments Volume

9%

9%

Cross-Border Volume Excluding Intra-Europe(2)

14%

12%

Cross-Border Volume Total

14%

13%

Processed Transactions

10%

9%

(2) Cross-border volume excluding transactions within Europe.

"Visa delivered a milestone year. We achieved record net revenue of $46 billion, up 15%, the strongest growth in over 15 years excluding the post-pandemic recovery and acquisitions. In 2026, we also demonstrated that whenever technology changes commerce, we move with it, we anticipate what's next, and we enable its growth as the leading hyperscaler of payments globally. The foundation of all of this is trust, which Visa brings with our scale, our network and our products. As we look to 2027 and beyond, trust is the next growth vector for Visa."

GAAP net income in the fiscal fourth quarter was $6.0 billion or $3.19 per share, an increase of 18% and 22%, respectively, over prior year's results. Current year's results included special items of $469 million for a litigation provision associated with the interchange multidistrict litigation ("MDL") case, $282 million related to the donation of investments to the Visa Foundation, and $37 million for a deferred tax expense recognized due to a change in the U.S. taxation of certain foreign earnings. Current year's results also included $155 million of net gains from equity investments and $75 million from the amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related costs. Prior year's results included a special item of $899 million for a litigation provision associated with the MDL case and other legal matters, $46 million of net gains from equity investments and $66 million from the amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related costs. Excluding these items and related tax impacts, non-GAAP net income for the quarter was $6.6 billion or $3.48 per share, an increase of 13% and 17%, respectively, over prior year's results (refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further details). GAAP earnings per share growth was approximately 22% on a constant-dollar basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar. Non-GAAP earnings per share growth was approximately 17% on a constant-dollar basis. All references to earnings per share assume fully diluted class A share count.

Net revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter was $12.1 billion, an increase of 13%, driven by the year-over-year growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions. Net revenue increased 13% on a constant-dollar basis.

Payments volume for the three months ended June 30, 2026, on which fiscal fourth quarter service revenue is recognized, increased 10% over the prior year on a constant-dollar basis.

Payments volume for the three months ended September 30, 2026 increased 9% over the prior year on a constant-dollar basis.

Cross-border volume excluding transactions within Europe, which drives our international transaction revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2026, increased 14% on a constant-dollar basis over the prior year. Total cross-border volume on a constant-dollar basis increased 14% over the prior year.

Total processed transactions, which represent transactions processed by Visa, for the three months ended September 30, 2026, were 74.2 billion, a 10% increase over the prior year.

Fiscal fourth quarter service revenue was $5.3 billion, an increase of 14% over the prior year, and is recognized based on payments volume in the prior quarter. All other revenue categories are recognized based on current quarter activity. Data processing revenue rose 16% over the prior year to $6.2 billion. International transaction revenue grew 8% over the prior year to $4.1 billion. Other revenue of $1.6 billion rose 40% over the prior year. Client incentives were $5.1 billion, up 21% over the prior year.

GAAP operating expenses were $4.9 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter, a 7% increase over the prior year's results, primarily driven by an increase in general and administrative expenses. GAAP operating expenses included the special items as well as the amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related costs in the current and prior year. Excluding these items, non-GAAP operating expenses increased 12% over the prior year, primarily driven by increases in marketing and personnel expenses.

GAAP non-operating income was $98 million for the fiscal fourth quarter, including $155 million of net equity investment gains. Excluding this item, non-GAAP non-operating expense was $57 million.

GAAP effective income tax rate was 18.5% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Excluding the special item related to the deferred tax expense and the related tax impacts from the non-GAAP items, the non-GAAP effective income tax rate was 18.4% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Cash, cash equivalents and investment securities were $14.2 billion at September 30, 2026.

The weighted-average number of diluted shares of class A common stock outstanding was 1.88 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

GAAP net income in the fiscal full-year 2026 was $23.5 billion or $12.32 per share, an increase of 17% and 21%, respectively, over prior year's results. Current year's results included special items of $1.7 billion for a litigation provision associated with the MDL case and other legal matters, $563 million for severance costs, $314 million for a deferred tax benefit recognized due to a change in the U.S. taxation of certain foreign earnings, and $282 million related to the donation of investments to the Visa Foundation. Current year's results also included $124 million of net gains from equity investments and $305 million from the amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related costs. Prior year's results included special items of $2.5 billion for a litigation provision associated with the MDL case and other legal matters, $213 million for severance costs, and $39 million for lease consolidation costs. Prior year's results also included

$87 million of net losses from equity investments and $315 million from the amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related costs. Excluding these items and related tax impacts, non-GAAP net income for the year was $25.3 billion or $13.27 per share, an increase of 12% and 16%, respectively, over prior year's results (refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for further details). GAAP earnings per share growth was approximately 20% on a constant-dollar basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar. Non-GAAP earnings per share growth was approximately 15% on a constant-dollar basis. All references to earnings per share assume fully diluted class A share count.

Net revenue in the fiscal full-year 2026 was $45.9 billion, an increase of 15%, driven by the year-over-year growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions. Net revenue increased 14% on a constant-dollar basis.

Payments volume for the twelve months ended September 30, 2026 increased 9% over the prior year on a constant-dollar basis.

Cross-border volume excluding transactions within Europe, which drives our international transaction revenue, for the twelve months ended September 30, 2026, increased 12% on a constant-dollar basis over the prior year. Total cross-border volume on a constant-dollar basis increased 13% over the prior year.

Total processed transactions, which represent transactions processed by Visa, for the twelve months ended September 30, 2026, were 281.3 billion, a 9% increase over the prior year.

Fiscal full-year 2026 service revenue was $19.9 billion, an increase of 14% over the prior year. Data processing revenue rose 17% over the prior year to $23.4 billion. International transaction revenue grew 8% over the prior year to $15.3 billion. Other revenue of $5.7 billion rose 40% over the prior year. Client incentives were $18.3 billion, up 16% over the prior year.

GAAP operating expenses were $17.8 billion for the fiscal full-year 2026, an 11% increase over the prior year's results, primarily driven by increases in personnel and marketing expenses. GAAP operating expenses included the special items as well as the amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related costs in the current and prior year.

Excluding these items, non-GAAP operating expenses increased 16% over the prior year, primarily driven by increases in personnel and marketing expenses.

GAAP non-operating expense was $17 million for the fiscal full-year 2026, including $124 million of net equity investment gains. Excluding this item, non-GAAP non-operating expense was $141 million.

GAAP effective income tax rate was 16.3% for the fiscal full-year 2026. Excluding the special item related to the deferred tax benefit and the related tax impacts from the non-GAAP items, the non-GAAP effective income tax rate was 17.9% for the fiscal full-year ended September 30, 2026.

The weighted-average number of diluted shares of class A common stock outstanding was 1.91 billion for the fiscal full-year ended September 30, 2026.

On August 3, 2026, Visa announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire BioCatch, a leading provider of behavioral-first, multi-signal fraud intelligence, for $2.4 billion in cash. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the end of the fiscal second quarter of 2027.

On September 18, 2026, Visa deposited $405 million into its litigation escrow account, which was previously established under the Company's U.S. retrospective responsibility plan to insulate the Company and class A common stockholders from financial liability for certain litigation cases. This deposit has the same economic effect on earnings per share as repurchasing the Company's class A common stock as it reduced each of the as-converted class B-1 common stock, class B-2 common stock and class B-3 common stock share counts at a volume-weighted average price of $366.81.

During the three months ended September 30, 2026, Visa repurchased approximately 11 million shares of class A common stock at an average cost of $369.12 per share for $4.0 billion. In the twelve months ended September 30, 2026, Visa repurchased a total of approximately 61 million shares of class A common stock at an average cost of $335.49 per share for $20.5 billion. The Company had $24.4 billion of remaining authorized funds for share repurchases as of September 30, 2026.

On October 27, 2026, the board of directors declared an increase to Visa's quarterly cash dividend to $0.780 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of all other outstanding common and preferred stock on an as-converted basis) payable on December 1, 2026, to all holders of record as of November 10, 2026.

Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2026 Earnings Results Call Details

Visa's executive management team will host a live audio webcast beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) today to discuss the financial results and business highlights. All interested parties are invited to listen to the live webcast at investor.visa.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Visa Investor Relations website for 30 days. Investor information, including supplemental financial information and operational performance data, is available on the Visa Investor Relations website at investor.visa.com.

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to, among other things, our future operations, prospects, developments, strategies, business growth, anticipated timing and benefits of our acquisitions, and financial outlook. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "projects," "outlook," "could," "should," "will," "continue" and other similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict.

Actual results or outcomes, or the timing of our results or outcomes, could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

  • impact of complex and evolving global regulations;

  • increased scrutiny and regulation of the global payments industry;

  • impact of government-imposed obligations and/or restrictions on international payments systems;

  • impact of laws and regulations regarding the handling of personal data, including laws and regulations related to privacy, cybersecurity and AI;

  • impact of tax examinations or disputes, or changes in tax laws;

  • outcome of litigation or investigations;

  • intense competition in our industry;

  • dependence on our client and seller base, which may be costly to win, retain and develop;

  • continued push to lower acceptance costs and challenge industry practices;

  • dependence on relationships with financial institutions, acquirers, processors, sellers, payment facilitators, ecommerce platforms, fintechs and other third parties;

  • our inability to maintain and enhance our brand;

  • impact of global economic, political, market, health and social events or conditions;

  • our ability to adjust to evolving corporate responsibility and sustainability matters and related regulations;

  • exposure to significant risk of loss or reduction of liquidity due to our indemnification obligation to fund settlement losses of our clients;

  • failure to anticipate, adapt to, or keep pace with, new technologies in the payments industry;

  • a disruption, failure or breach of our networks or systems, including as a result of cyber incidents or attacks;

  • our inability to achieve the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic investments;

  • our inability to attract, hire and retain a highly qualified workforce, including key management;

  • the conversions of our class B-1, B-2, B-3 (class B) and class C common stock or series A, B and C preferred stock into shares of class A common stock would result in voting dilution to, and could adversely impact the market price of, our existing class A common stock;

  • differing interests between holders of our class B and C common stock and series A, B and C preferred stock compared to our class A common stock concerning certain significant transactions; and

  • other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2025, and any subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.

Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

Contacts

Investor Relations

Jennifer Como, 650-432-7644 InvestorRelations@visa.com

Media Relations

Fletcher Cook, 650-432-2990 Press@visa.com

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