Visa and Mastercard Stocks Soar as Swipe Fees Reach Record Levels

Visa and Mastercard stock prices have reached record highs, sparking renewed calls for Congress to address soaring credit card swipe fees. This week's market performance comes on the heels of recent earnings reports from both companies, which show significant increases in net profits.

According to data, Visa's shares closed at a record $382.41 on Monday, while Mastercard's shares hit a record high of $599.86. These numbers are particularly striking given the context of the two companies' quarterly earnings reports. Visa reported a 7% year-over-year increase in net profits, totaling $5.6 billion on revenue of $11.6 billion for a profit margin of 48%. Mastercard's net profits were up 19% year over year, reaching $4.4 billion on revenue of $9.3 billion for a profit margin of 47%.

The issue at hand is the significant rise in credit card swipe fees since the pandemic, which have jumped 80% and reached a record $198.25 billion in 2025. These fees are driving up prices for consumers, with the average family facing an additional $1,200 per year due to the costs being passed on by merchants.

The Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC) is calling for Congress to address this issue through bipartisan legislation, specifically citing the Credit Card Competition Act. This bill would introduce competition in the market by allowing banks with at least $100 billion in assets to enable credit cards to be processed over unaffiliated networks, potentially saving merchants and consumers $17 billion annually.