Visa (V.US) reported earnings that surpassed analyst expectations, with payment volume soaring 8% compared to the prior year, driven by robust holiday consumer spending. Financial results showed that Visa's adjusted earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 were $3.17 per share, a 15% increase year-over-year, exceeding the average estimate of $3.14; revenue grew 14.6% to $10.9 billion, also beating forecasts. The credit card network giant reaffirmed its expectations for fiscal 2026 growth in earnings per share, net revenue, and operating expenses, all projected to increase by percentages in the "low double-digit" range. Following the earnings release, Visa's stock declined 1.33% in after-hours trading. Total payments volume processed by Visa during the quarter reached $3.87 trillion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.83 trillion and rising from $3.73 trillion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and $3.52 trillion in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Total processed transactions increased 9% year-over-year to 69.4 billion, slightly below the expected 69.7 billion. For the three months ended December 31, 2025, cross-border volume excluding intra-Europe transactions—a primary contributor to international transaction revenue—grew 11% on a constant-dollar basis compared to the prior year. Total cross-border volume increased 12% on a constant-dollar basis year-over-year. Chief Executive Ryan McInerney stated in a release that the earnings growth was "driven by resilient consumer spending and a strong holiday season, alongside continued strength in value-added services, commercial, and money movement solutions." In December, the company expanded its service offerings, announcing it would open its US network to stablecoin settlement. As the Trump administration provided greater regulatory clarity, Visa and its peers have been exploring ways to enter the stablecoin market. Visa's competitor Mastercard also witnessed robust spending in the quarter ended December, propelling its adjusted net profit above analysts' average expectations. The two payment companies reached an agreement with merchants in November regarding fees paid for accepting card payments, although it remains uncertain whether the $200-billion settlement will fully resolve this long-standing issue. On Wednesday, Visa announced it would allow its credit cardholders to use reward points to fund new children's savings accounts established by US President Trump. McInerney described this as a "simple and powerful way" to help families save for their children's future.