New York, Feb 21, 2026, 14:26 ET — The market has closed.
- Visa finished Friday up 0.6%, closing at $320.95.
- Visa struck deals to acquire Argentina-based payments outfits Prisma and Newpay, moves designed to expand its footprint in local processing and real-time payment infrastructure.
- Traders go into Monday eyeing U.S. rate signals along with consumer demand data, both capable of moving payment volumes.
Visa (V.N) rose 0.6% to $320.95 at the close on Friday, steady after announcing plans to acquire two payments firms in Argentina. (Bloomberg)
U.S. markets are closed Saturday, and investors find themselves weighing one thing for next week: will Visa’s move into Argentina drive real growth, or just pile on execution risk as macro data lose some steam.
It’s a big deal for Visa, whose business depends on spending and cross-border travel. If growth slows or rates hold higher for longer, transaction numbers may slip. Investors start scrutinizing what they’re willing to pay for steady earnings.
Visa announced on Feb. 19 it has signed a definitive deal to buy Prisma Medios de Pago and Newpay from Advent International. Prisma, according to Visa, manages card issuer processing; Newpay operates multi-network infrastructure, which covers real-time payments, the Banelco ATM network, and the PagoMisCuentas bill-pay platform. Visa said Payway is not included in the transaction. The company expects to close the acquisition in its fiscal second quarter of 2026. “This acquisition is an important step for Visa in Argentina,” said CEO Ryan McInerney. Gabriela Renaudo, a local executive, noted there’s potential to boost adoption of digital payments. (Visa)
Visa sees potential for the merged platforms to introduce features like tokenization, swapping out card numbers for digital tokens to cut down on fraud. The company also pointed to biometric sign-in and tighter risk controls as part of the offering.
Visa took the opportunity this week to highlight its brand investment, announcing an expanded partnership with Red Bull’s Formula One teams. Chief Marketing Officer Frank Cooper III described the extended deal, which goes through 2030, as a chance to reach both fans and clients “in powerful, authentic ways.” (Visa)
Friday saw a lift across the board. The S&P 500 closed in positive territory, with Mastercard up 1.2% and Visa advancing 0.6%, MarketWatch data show. (MarketWatch)
Macro factors are still in play. U.S. growth took a steep dive in the fourth quarter, dragged down by a prolonged government shutdown that dented federal spending. Inflation, on the other hand, stayed solid—just enough to keep the Federal Reserve wary about any quick rate cuts, according to a Reuters report on Friday. (Reuters)
Traders are set to focus on any change in rate expectations after Fed Governor Christopher Waller’s remarks Monday morning, per the Fed’s calendar. Later this week, U.S. data releases—consumer confidence and producer prices among them—are lined up. (Federal Reserve)
Plenty could trip this up. That Argentina deal? Still waiting on green lights and successful integration. And if the economy turns rougher, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, payment volumes could get pinched, putting heat on the stock’s multiple—even if the company’s numbers stay solid.
Visa has execs on deck for a pair of investor events—March 3 and March 11—according to the company. Chris Newkirk, who leads Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, will speak at the Wolfe Research FinTech Forum. Macro focus shifts to March 13, with the BEA’s next personal income and outlays data drop, featuring the PCE inflation measure. (Nasdaq)
