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This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TIGR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$27.5K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>7.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$156.0K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$26.0K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$270.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$47.2K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$28.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>391</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MMC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$242.1K</td>
<td>87</td>
<td>130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RKT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$36.4K</td>
<td>251</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$26.5K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$482.50</td>
<td>$26.6K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding TIGR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TIGR#NASDAQ">TIGR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 15 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 1100 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.5K, with a price of $25.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7509 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FUTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 15 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 306 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $156.0K, with a price of $510.0 per contract. There were 1339 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5207 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on October 4, 2024. This event was a transfer of 466 contract(s) at a $22.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.0K, with a price of $56.0 per contract. There were 1942 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1708 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 43 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 900 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $270.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 1222 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 43 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 236 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.2K, with a price of $200.0 per contract. There were 5276 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1123 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HIG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIG#NYSE">HIG</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 15 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 379 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.7K, with a price of $77.0 per contract. There were 1094 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 391 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MMC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMC#NYSE">MMC</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 15 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 90 contract(s) at a $195.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $242.1K, with a price of $2690.0 per contract. There were 87 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 130 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RKT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 834 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.4K, with a price of $730.0 per contract. There were 251 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 50 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 470 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 39 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.5K, with a price of $680.0 per contract. There were 4232 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 49 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on October 4, 2024. Parties traded 22 contract(s) at a $482.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.6K, with a price of $1213.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

News

Mastercard To Acquire Minna Technologies

There aren&#39;t&nbsp;many deals to consider for further value in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/sectors/computer-and-technology/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">technology sector</a>. However, one stock is looking to change that narrative by delivering on previous promises. Shares of&nbsp;PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pypl#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) have recently made a new 52-week high, now trading near $80 a share for the first time since the first quarter of 2023. The issue becomes whether they can sustain this new price or even reach&nbsp;a higher valuation.
According to a few Wall Street analysts, PayPal may be able to do this in the coming quarters. The <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/sectors/finance/">financial sector</a> is one of the first to move when the economic landscape shifts, such as today, with the interest rate pivot coming from the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to help boost transaction volume and fees for stocks like PayPal. But then, there&#39;s the subject of competition.
It&#39;s true that PayPal doesn&#39;t operate in a vacuum. It competes with behemoths in the space like Visa Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/v#NYSE">V</a>) and Mastercard Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ma#NYSE">MA</a>). Even in the smaller market bracket, PayPal must remain competitive and attractive relative to competitors like <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/">Block Inc. (NYSE: </a><a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sq#NYSE">SQ</a>). Investors could safely assume this may be the case moving forward with PayPal stock for reasons that will become clear in just a bit.
<h3>Price Action and Forecasts Position PayPal Stock Ahead </h3>
Investors can begin to get a feel for what the market feels about PayPal stock through price action. Compared to its closest competitor, Block, PayPal is trading at a new 52-week high now, while Block is trading down to roughly <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/chart/">77% of its 52-week high</a>.
There must be a reason traders and markets are bidding higher for PayPal, which can be found in expectations and forecasts. Earnings per share (EPS) growth forecasts reflect PayPal&#39;s jump from $1.19 in profits today to <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/PYPL/earnings/">$1.30 for the same quarter next year</a>.
This 10% jump is significantly higher than <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/earnings/">Block&#39;s EPS forecasts for $0.50</a>, down from today&#39;s $0.93, a nearly 50% contraction in comparison. Given that PayPal is a $74 billion company, investors cannot&mdash;and should not&mdash;compare its growth to that of Visa or Mastercard, which are closer to the half-trillion mark.
However, investors can compare upside potential. Those at Mizuho Financial decided to place a $90 price target on PayPal a couple of months ago, jumping the gun early given that nobody else followed the trend until now. Analysts from Deutsche Bank topped Mizuho&#39;s view with a <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/PYPL/forecast/">$94 a share price target</a>.
This implies that despite the current yearly high, PayPal has about 21.2% upside left to run higher. PayPal takes the lead compared to <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/forecast/">Block&#39;s recent $70 price target</a> from New Street Research. When it comes to Visa and Mastercard, a respective <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/V/forecast/">7.5%</a> and <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/MA/forecast/">3% upside</a> potential pales next to PayPal&#39;s growth.
The question is whether PayPal&#39;s financials and business have what it takes to deliver on these promises.
<h3>PayPal Proves Stronger Than Investors Previously Expected</h3>
Looking at <a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/231198771/files/doc_financials/2024/q2/PYPL-2Q-24-Earnings-Release.pdf">PayPal&#39;s latest quarterly earnings results</a>, the trend toward a potential higher price becomes clearer. Starting with revenues, PayPal reported a net increase of 8%, along with a similar 8% expansion in transaction margins to boost further profitability down the line.
Regarding other drivers or key performance indicators (KPIs), PayPal didn&#39;t disappoint either. Total payment volume rose 11% in the year to $416.8 billion, and transactions per active account also rose 11% in signal activity within the platform despite worries about the consumer and business economy.
Here&#39;s why markets and bears have kept PayPal stock so low during the past few quarters. Net active accounts decreased by 0.4% to 429 million, which may have been enough to scare capital away from this company. Still, those savvy enough will focus on the other profit metrics on the rise.
All told, PayPal reported up to $1.4 billion in free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures). Knowing that the best is just ahead for PayPal, management has committed up to 100% of the company&#39;s free cash flow into a share buyback program.
This addition to the buyback program would put PayPal on pace to buy back up to $5 billion worth of stock, which is nearly 10% of the company&#39;s market capitalization. When management approves such aggressive buybacks, it typically means they think the stock is cheap enough today and also expect to see higher prices ahead.
However, management isn&#39;t the only one buying up PayPal stock; those at Legal &amp; General Group decided to boost their holdings by as much as 3.3% as of August 2024, bringing their net position to <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/PYPL/institutional-ownership/">$501.2 million today</a>. This is only a fraction of the $4 billion of institutional capital called PayPal stock home over the past 12 months, a figure investors can safely assume will increase.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/paypal-soars-to-new-heights-why-analysts-see-more-upside/">PayPal Soars to New Heights: Why Analysts See More Upside</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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PayPal Soars To New Heights: Why Analysts See More Upside

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Mastercard And Amazon Payment Services Partner To Digitize Payment Acceptance Across Middle East And Africa, Covering Key Markets Like UAE, Egypt, And South Africa

Mastercard (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ma#NYSE">MA</a>) just announced an acquisition to beef up its capabilities in cybersecurity and threat prevention. It will buy Recorded Future, the world&#39;s largest threat intelligence firm. When it comes to companies deeply embedded in the payments industry, it makes sense why Mastercard spent $2.65 billion on the company.
<h2>Preventing Fraud Is Important Now More Than Ever</h2>
Knowing that Mastercard is doing everything it can to protect its customers&#39; money is essential to keeping the trust it has built over the years. Keeping this trust is important to Mastercard being the payment method of choice for merchants. Collecting fees from merchants when transactions take place at their businesses is one of the main ways Mastercard generates revenue.
When a fraudulent purchase is made using someone&#39;s card, banks often reimburse the consumer. When that happens, it comes out of the merchant&#39;s wallet, largely in the form of fees and chargebacks.
Ensuring that Mastercard minimizes the threat of fraud that leaves merchants holding the bag allows the company to maintain its position as one of the two leaders in the payment space. The other leader is Visa (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/v#NYSE">V</a>).
Having a strong position in the arena is particularly important now as fraud and cybercrime are on the rise. The cost of cybercrime in 2023 is estimated at over $8 trillion per year. Based on gross domestic product (GDP) data, that is approximately 30% of the value of the United States economy&mdash;nearly double the GDP of Germany.
Mastercard was already working with Recorded Future on tech that alerts banks when a card is likely compromised. They say the identification rate of compromised cards has doubled since the technology launched last year. Analysts at William Blair see the Recorded Future deal as &quot;bolstering Mastercard&#39;s competitive advantage.&quot;
<h2>Recorded Future Presents Growth Opportunity for Mastercard</h2>
Not only can the acquisition help secure the company&#39;s competitive position with merchants, but it will also bring in significant revenue. The company makes about $300 million from subscriptions to its threat intelligence platform. This business will likely fall into Mastercard&#39;s Value-Added Services and Solutions segment, which made up 37% of total revenue in 2023.
Though $300 million is a drop in the bucket vs. Mastercard&#39;s 2023 revenue of $25.1 billion, Mastercard will aim to grow the business significantly. The company&#39;s massive reach can help extend the product to a much wider range of customers. Additionally, the increased intelligence that Recorded Future brings will make Mastercard&#39;s cybersecurity offerings more attractive.
<h2>Mastercard&#39;s Commitment to Acquisitions and AI Investment Are Strong Competitive Moves</h2>
Both Visa and Mastercard are investing to boost their threat prevention. However, rather than acquisitions, Visa has used more internal investment and strategic partnerships. The company has reportedly invested &quot;$10 billion in technology, including $500 million on AI and data infrastructure to guard against fraudulent activity.&quot;
However, due to its specific focus on AI, the acquisition of Recorded Future feels like an advantage for Mastercard. According to the FBI, criminals are increasing their use of AI to commit cybercrime. To stop these increasingly advanced threats, companies need to use increasingly advanced protection. Investing significantly in AI is how Mastercard can stay ahead of the curve.
Visa recognizes this too. The firm is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire an AI and machine learning fraud prevention company of its own. The company is called Featurespace, and its clients include financial institutions like HSBC (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hsbc#NYSE">HSBC</a>). At first glance, Featurespace may be a better fit for fraud prevention than Recorded Future. The company tends to focus specifically on this issue with financial institutions.
However, Recorded Future&#39;s broader focus may also open up opportunities for Mastercard that it would not have otherwise known about if it had bought a company focused on one particular industry. It may be a case of &quot;you get what you pay for.&quot; The Featurespace acquisition is reported to be around $925 million, much less than Mastercard&#39;s $2.65 billion investment.
This&nbsp;isn&#39;t Mastercard&#39;s only acquisition that uses AI to prevent threats. In 2023, it also bought&nbsp;Baffin Bay Networks, although&nbsp;the purchase is believed to be extremely small compared to the Recorded Future deal.
Currently, Mastercard has 23 buy ratings, five hold ratings, and no sell ratings from Wall Street.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/mastercard-investing-in-ai-and-cybersecurity-to-beat-out-visa/">Mastercard: Investing in AI and Cybersecurity to Beat Out Visa</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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Mastercard: Investing in AI and Cybersecurity to Beat Out Visa

Payments company Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) was hit with an antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday that analysts say could take years to sort out and will likely hurt shares<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41009461/visa-shares-are-moving-lower-today-what-you-need-to-know"> in the short term.</a>
 What Happened: The DOJ alleged Visa<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40996656/visa-reportedly-faces-doj-antitrust-lawsuit-alleging-monopolization-of-us-debit-card-market-amid"> used anticompetitive practices</a> in the debit network market in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New York on Tuesday.
Visa controls over 60% of the U.S. debit transactions market, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged Visa illegally operates a monopoly by using exclusionary agreements with banks and merchants to prevent competition in the market.
"We allege that Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said.
Garland said merchants and banks pass these costs on to consumers.
"As a result, Visa's unlawful conduct affects not just the price of one thing — but the price of nearly everything."
The DOJ said it is seeking to "restore competition" to the market.
As Visa stock falls, analysts are weighing in with short-term and long-term repercussions for the company.
Goldman Sachs on Visa: Anti-competitive allegations against Visa were "broader in scope" than reported allegations from the Department of Justice were expected to be, Goldman Sachs analyst Will Nance said in a new investor note.
The analyst said the lawsuit accused Visa of using incentive pricing, limiting the ability of alternative networks, threatening to terminate partnerships and entering into agreements with financial incentives to partners.
"The DOJ alleges that through these practices, Visa has abused its monopolistic power to maintain high fees on debit transactions, and limit competition and innovation in debt markets," Nance said.
The analyst has a Buy rating on Visa with a $317 price target.
The DOJ is seeking to restore a competitive market to the space, the analyst added.
"We believe this litigation is likely to be an overhang for near-term performance, particularly as the scope of the lawsuit is broader than we expected."
The analyst said the financial implications could be a 1.8% impact on earnings per share for every 5% loss in U.S. debit market share.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40979995/consumers-turn-to-401-k-s-to-pay-down-credit-cards-life-is-expensive"> Consumers Turn To 401(k)s To Pay Down Credit Cards: &#8216;Life Is Expensive&#8217;</a>
JPMorgan on Visa: The DOJ antitrust lawsuit against Visa could take years to be completed, and will likely hurt the stock in the near-term, JPMorgan analyst Tien-tsin Huang said.
"The DOJ is arguing that Visa's contracts and pricing structure prevent other networks (including Mastercard, FI's STAR/Accel, FIS's NYCE, etc.) as well as ‘fintech debit networks' (Apple, Block and PayPal) from competing on a level playing field," Huang said.
The analyst said the lawsuit is complicated but the items covered aren't too surprising as they are common practices in the payments sector.
"We suspect a resolution here will be multiple years in the making given historical precedent but wouldn't be surprised to see some ongoing weight on Visa's shares near-term given, on the margin, regulatory attention likely pressure pricing power."
The analyst has an Overweight rating on Visa with a $320 price target.
Huang said the lawsuit could provide overhang benefits to Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), Fiserv Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>) and Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIS#NYSE">FIS</a>).
"We reiterate our preference for top-pick Mastercard, but note that Vis has effectively navigated various regulatory headwinds both domestically and overseas."
The analyst said Fiserve and Fidelity National Information Services could benefit from measures taken in the debit market, while Mastercard could benefit given its lower market share in debit (25% vs. Visa's 60%) and actions taken to make the two companies more competitive.
"Visa being the largest domestic payment company, sitting at the center of transactions between multiple parties means it must delicately balance these dynamics while not overreaching competitively – a challenging task, and it falls to the court to decide what side of the line Visa falls on in this case."
 V Price Action: Visa stock is down 1.31% to $269.22 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $227.78 to $293.07. Visa stock is up 13% year-to-date in 2024.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/exclusives/24/09/40962321/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">Benzinga&#8217;s &#8216;Stock Whisper&#8217; Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don&#8217;t Talk About Yet</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Government

Price Target

Reiteration

Legal

Visa Stock Has Near-Term 'Overhang' From DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit: Analyst Picks 3 Stocks To Benefit

WIIM

Shares of credit card and payment stocks are trading lower. The sector may be under pressure. Some payments stocks may also be down after Global Payments issued soft guidance.

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$8.00</td>
<td>$86.1K</td>
<td>35.6K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SCHW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
<td>$75.7K</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COF</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$156.0K</td>
<td>540</td>
<td>408</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$49.5K</td>
<td>355</td>
<td>345</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$64.0K</td>
<td>384</td>
<td>326</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$69.1K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>259</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$31.0K</td>
<td>37.2K</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RKT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>607</td>
<td>144</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$25.6K</td>
<td>7.6K</td>
<td>105</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 115 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $8.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $86.1K, with a price of $86.0 per contract. There were 35685 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2907 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SCHW (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 1065 contract(s) at a $69.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $75.7K, with a price of $71.0 per contract. There were 19 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1067 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 52 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $156.0K, with a price of $520.0 per contract. There were 540 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 408 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 52 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 23 contract(s) at a $500.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.5K, with a price of $2155.0 per contract. There were 355 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 345 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 178 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 80 contract(s) at a $170.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $64.0K, with a price of $800.0 per contract. There were 384 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 326 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FUTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 115 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 144 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.1K, with a price of $480.0 per contract. There were 1219 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 259 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 479 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $37.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.0K, with a price of $310.0 per contract. There were 37245 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding EG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EG#NYSE">EG</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 52 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $370.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.0K, with a price of $700.0 per contract. There were 1 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 150 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RKT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 87 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 144 contract(s) at a $19.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $175.0 per contract. There were 607 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 144 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AXP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 479 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 5 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.6K, with a price of $5130.0 per contract. There were 7683 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 105 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SCHW

SOFI

In the ever-evolving and intensely competitive business landscape, conducting a thorough company analysis is of utmost importance for investors and industry followers. In this article, we will carry out an in-depth industry comparison, assessing Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) alongside its primary competitors in the Financial Services industry. By meticulously examining key financial metrics, market positioning, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights to investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Mastercard Background</h3>
Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to over $9 trillion in volume during 2023. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Mastercard Inc</td>
<td>37.67</td>
<td>61.34</td>
<td>17.49</td>
<td>44.44%</td>
<td>$4.32</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>11.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Visa Inc</td>
<td>30.49</td>
<td>14.47</td>
<td>16.67</td>
<td>12.62%</td>
<td>$6.45</td>
<td>$7.13</td>
<td>9.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fiserv Inc</td>
<td>30.89</td>
<td>3.63</td>
<td>5.37</td>
<td>3.14%</td>
<td>$2.22</td>
<td>$3.12</td>
<td>7.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PayPal Holdings Inc</td>
<td>18.63</td>
<td>3.81</td>
<td>2.66</td>
<td>5.46%</td>
<td>$1.75</td>
<td>$3.61</td>
<td>8.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity National Information Services Inc</td>
<td>83.23</td>
<td>2.69</td>
<td>4.88</td>
<td>1.39%</td>
<td>$0.8</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>2.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Block Inc</td>
<td>62.46</td>
<td>2.15</td>
<td>1.81</td>
<td>1.02%</td>
<td>$0.6</td>
<td>$2.23</td>
<td>11.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Global Payments Inc</td>
<td>20.31</td>
<td>1.26</td>
<td>2.89</td>
<td>1.68%</td>
<td>$1.08</td>
<td>$1.63</td>
<td>4.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corpay Inc</td>
<td>22.33</td>
<td>7.75</td>
<td>5.89</td>
<td>8.38%</td>
<td>$0.51</td>
<td>$0.77</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jack Henry &amp; Associates Inc</td>
<td>33.19</td>
<td>6.87</td>
<td>5.72</td>
<td>5.58%</td>
<td>$0.18</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>4.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WEX Inc</td>
<td>35.83</td>
<td>4.77</td>
<td>3.34</td>
<td>4.32%</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.41</td>
<td>8.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shift4 Payments Inc</td>
<td>52.67</td>
<td>8.29</td>
<td>1.94</td>
<td>5.7%</td>
<td>$0.13</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>29.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Euronet Worldwide Inc</td>
<td>17.56</td>
<td>3.72</td>
<td>1.31</td>
<td>6.76%</td>
<td>$0.18</td>
<td>$0.41</td>
<td>5.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Western Union Co</td>
<td>7.16</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>0.98</td>
<td>33.62%</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>-8.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>StoneCo Ltd</td>
<td>10.41</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>1.60</td>
<td>3.29%</td>
<td>$1.13</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
<td>11.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Payoneer Global Inc</td>
<td>29.19</td>
<td>4.33</td>
<td>3.24</td>
<td>4.87%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.2</td>
<td>15.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PagSeguro Digital Ltd</td>
<td>8.45</td>
<td>1.10</td>
<td>1.70</td>
<td>3.59%</td>
<td>$1.83</td>
<td>$-0.02</td>
<td>6.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paymentus Holdings Inc</td>
<td>84.31</td>
<td>6.04</td>
<td>3.97</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>32.55%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DLocal Ltd</td>
<td>18.55</td>
<td>5.25</td>
<td>3.50</td>
<td>10.06%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>6.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Evertec Inc</td>
<td>31.45</td>
<td>4.37</td>
<td>2.77</td>
<td>6.44%</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>$0.11</td>
<td>26.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>33.17</td>
<td>5.04</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>6.67%</td>
<td>$0.98</td>
<td>$1.32</td>
<td>10.33%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>Upon closer analysis of Mastercard, the following trends become apparent: 
<ul>
<li>
The current Price to Earnings ratio of 37.67 is 1.14x higher than the industry average, indicating the stock is priced at a premium level according to the market sentiment.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 61.34 relative to the industry average by 12.17x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 17.49, which is 4.48x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The company has a higher Return on Equity (ROE) of 44.44%, which is 37.77% above the industry average. This suggests efficient use of equity to generate profits and demonstrates profitability and growth potential.
</li>
<li>
With higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $4.32 Billion, which is 4.41x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
With higher gross profit of $5.35 Billion, which indicates 4.05x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company's revenue growth of 11.04% is notably higher compared to the industry average of 10.33%, showcasing exceptional sales performance and strong demand for its products or services.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727103622_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a key indicator of a company's financial health and its reliance on debt financing.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By analyzing Mastercard in relation to its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be derived:
<ul>
<li>
Mastercard has a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers, as evidenced by its lower debt-to-equity ratio of 2.1.
</li>
<li>
This suggests that the company has a more favorable balance between debt and equity, which can be perceived as a positive indicator by investors.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Mastercard, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to industry peers, indicating potential overvaluation. On the other hand, Mastercard's high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth suggest strong operational performance and growth prospects within the Financial Services sector.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Performance Comparison: Mastercard And Competitors In Financial Services Industry

Consumers are turning more frequently to their 401(k) accounts to pay down <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/24/09/40960923/heres-how-much-you-would-have-made-owning-mastercard-stock-in-the-last-10-years">their credit cards</a> as they face higher prices for essentials such as food, gas and electricity, according to a financial planner.
Total credit-card debt in the U.S. reached $1.34 trillion as of June, Federal Reserve data <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/20240909/">showed</a>. In May, credit card balances for consumers between 43 and 58 years old <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/05/39059618/this-generation-has-more-credit-card-debt-than-millennials-and-gen-z-5-tips-on-how-to-crawl-out">averaged $9,123</a>.
&#8220;People are facing rising prices and while the rate of inflation has decreased, there is still inflation,&#8221; said Bobbi Rebell, a certified financial planner and finance expert at CardRates.com.
&#8220;Therefore, prices are still high, even though they're not going up as quickly. Life is expensive! People are struggling because they're paying more for everyday expenses like groceries.&#8221;
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39827834/why-capital-one-stock-is-climbing">Why Capital One Stock Is Climbing</a>
Turning to 401(k)s to pay those balances has also risen because the government has made it easier to access some money from a 401(k) without penalties, she said.
&#8220;Also, that's where the money is! Because many employers have auto enrollment and employees must opt out, people have more money in their 401(k) account,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;At least with a 401(k) you are paying yourself interest and the rate is usually more affordable than the interest rate of a credit card.&#8221;
Major drawbacks to using a 401(k) to pay down credit cards is that consumers must pay back what they take out before leaving the job that gave them the 401(k). They are also using funds that are meant to be spent in retirement, she said.
&#8220;You are borrowing money from your future.&#8221;
Price Action: Credit card companies fell slightly on Friday.
<ul>
<li>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) slipped 0.16% to $284.77.</li>
<li>Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) dropped 0.05% to $493.30.</li>
<li>Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) fell 0.99% to $142.49</li>
<li>Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) declined 0.52% to $152.25.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39847159/analyst-expects-discover-financial-to-further-narrow-fy24-guidance-this-year-detail">Analyst Expects Discover Financial To Further Narrow FY24 Guidance This Year: Detail</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Education

Consumers Turn To 401(k)s To Pay Down Credit Cards: 'Life Is Expensive'

Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 9.53% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 20.69%. Currently, Mastercard has a market capitalization of $452.42 billion. 
Buying $1000 In MA: If an investor had bought $1000 of MA stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $6,357.95 today based on a price of $489.72 for MA at the time of writing.
<h3>Mastercard's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726846218_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Mastercard Stock In The Last 10 Years

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) shares are<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener"> trading lower on Thursday.</a>
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, MA stock has gained over 19% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYG#NYSE">IYG</a>) and&nbsp;BlackRock Long-Term U.S. Equity ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BELT#NASDAQ">BELT</a>).
Safaricom and Mastercard have forged a partnership aimed at boosting the adoption of payment acceptance and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/b40939900/safaricom-and-mastercard-partner-to-expand-remittances-and-payment-acceptance-to-over-636-000-merc" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-border remittance services in Kenya.</a>
&#8220;We are proud to partner with Safaricom to build an inclusive digital economy that works for everyone, everywhere. We will enable the merchants to grow and contribute to the Kenyan economy,&#8221;&nbsp;said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, EEMEA, Mastercard.
Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39621550/mastercard-and-ant-group-expand-digital-payment-zones-in-western-chinese-cities-details" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Mastercard and Ant Group Expand Digital Payment Zones In Western Chinese Cities: Details</a>
This collaboration is expected to benefit more than 636,000 merchants utilizing M-PESA, Safaricom&#8217;s premier mobile money service.
By utilizing M-PESA&#8217;s vast merchant network alongside Mastercard&#8217;s global payment infrastructure, this partnership aims to provide merchants with seamless, secure, and scalable payment solutions, allowing them to reach customers in international markets.
Additionally, it will enhance remittance services, facilitating efficient cross-border transactions.
&#8220;By combining our expertise with Mastercard&#8217;s global acceptance network, we are enabling businesses to provide more efficient and frictionless payment solutions to their customers, both in Kenya and beyond,&#8221; said&nbsp;Esther Waititu, Chief Financial Services Officer, Safaricom.
Price Action: MA shares were down 0.13% at $494.11 at the last check Thursday.
Photo via Shutterstock
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39502281/judge-tosses-the-card-visa-mastercard-swipe-fee-settlement-reportedly-rejected" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Judge Tosses The Card: Visa-Mastercard Swipe Fee Settlement Reportedly Rejected</a></li>
</ul>

Equities

BELT

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Financial Services Index Fund

Safaricom, Mastercard Team Up To Supercharge Cross-Border Payments And Merchant Growth In Kenya

Safaricom and Mastercard have signed a partnership to accelerate the adoption of payment acceptance and cross-border remittance services in Kenya. This collaboration is set to benefit over 636,000 merchants using M-PESA, Safaricom's leading mobile money service.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240919122413/en/">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240919122413/en/</a>
Kenya's payment acceptance market continues to grow, with mobile wallet payments driven by M-PESA showing a <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ffinance.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fkenya-mobile-wallet-payments-market-081506739.html%3Fguccounter%3D1%26guce_referrer%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%26guce_referrer_sig%3DAQAAADWPDcT9u3AZZToM-H-utq8XluxFla5e-MWNG-aPNcCKtVcT4GKKwpROWFAXhOIRyRc5IkZxDEzKtMZB2cp8mpeBZGMI754X22MumqbcYilKd_104zCg6rNnlm3Dh3OkVAGBGnbHnAUNBMXysXC5tcwv64wu_C65M13swcxf5oX0&amp;esheet=54124525&amp;newsitemid=20240919122413&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=12.7%25+CAGR+between+2020+and+2024&amp;index=1&amp;md5=4b38f5322589ad0fdfd9239be16a2fa2">12.7% CAGR between 2020 and 2024</a>. Leveraging M-PESA's extensive merchant network and Mastercard's global payment infrastructure, this partnership will make more seamless, secure, and scalable payment solutions available to merchants, enabling them to serve customers across global markets. The partnership will also boost remittance services, streamlining cross-border transactions efficiently.

Global

Mastercard And Safaricom Partner To Expand Remittances And Payment Acceptance To Over 636K Merchants In Kenya

Investors are on edge in the lead-up to the Wednesday Federal Open Market Committee interest rate decision that is expected to deliver the first cut to the federal funds rate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40921827/fed-decision-is-here-5-things-investors-need-to-know-ahead-of-wednesdays-pivotal-in">in over four years.</a>
The market is divided on the magnitude of the anticipated rate cut. Traders are assigning a 59% probability to a 50-basis-point cut, while a 41% chance is placed on a more modest 25-basis-point reduction. The size of the rate cut is crucial as it could trigger significant market reactions.
Should the Fed opt for a 50-basis-point cut, it may be perceived as an acknowledgment that interest rates are overly restrictive. This could lead to increased expectations for further rate cuts in the coming months, potentially fueling risk sentiment and driving stock prices higher.
Conversely, a 25-basis-point cut might disappoint investors who are betting on a more aggressive measure.
Since the start of 2022, the S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), has experienced an average move of plus or minus 1.3% during FOMC events, reflecting the market&#8217;s high sensitivity to Fed policy decisions.
Goldman Sachs equity analysts, including John Marshall, analyzed stock movements during the first rate cuts in the previous three Fed easing cycles (Sept. 18, 2007, July 31, 2019 and March 3, 2020).
The data highlights the average moves of several key S&amp;P 500 stocks with liquid options during these periods.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Absolute Average Move</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>)</td>
<td>5.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>5.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Charles Schwab Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>)</td>
<td>4.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Fortinet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>)</td>
<td>4.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>)</td>
<td>4.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>3.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Newmont Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>)</td>
<td>3.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Deere &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>)</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>BlackRock Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>)</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Texas Instruments Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)</td>
<td>3.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>3M Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>)</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>)</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>)</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</td>
<td>2.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</td>
<td>2.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40908202/10-etfs-investors-secretly-bought-before-the-feds-make-or-break-interest-rate-cal">10 ETFs Investors Secretly Bought Before The Fed&#8217;s Make-Or-Break Interest Rate Call</a></li>
</ul>
Federal Reserve illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

Mid Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

ETFs

FTNT

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SBUX

20 S&P 500 Stocks That Move The Most When The Fed Starts Cutting Interest Rates

B of A Securities analyst Jason Kupferberg maintains Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $480 to $509.

B of A Securities Maintains Neutral on Mastercard, Raises Price Target to $509

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Mastercard.
Looking at options history for Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) we detected 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 0% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 62% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $346,327 and 3, calls, for a total amount of $117,768.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $500.0 to $560.0 for Mastercard over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Mastercard's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Mastercard's whale activity within a strike price range from $500.0 to $560.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Mastercard Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726592461_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$61.95</td>
<td>$60.55</td>
<td>$61.95</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$154.8K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$21.45</td>
<td>$20.6</td>
<td>$20.97</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$53.5K</td>
<td>86</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$27.0</td>
<td>$26.65</td>
<td>$26.82</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$50.9K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$21.35</td>
<td>$20.7</td>
<td>$21.06</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$49.0K</td>
<td>86</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">71</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$21.65</td>
<td>$19.7</td>
<td>$20.66</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$47.4K</td>
<td>86</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Mastercard</h3>
Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to over $9 trillion in volume during 2023. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.
In light of the recent options history for Mastercard, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Mastercard's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 874,784, the price of MA is up 0.22% at $498.8. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 37 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Mastercard</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $547.5.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Mastercard, targeting a price of $570. </li>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Compass Point lowers its rating to Neutral with a new price target of $525.</li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Mastercard, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Decoding Mastercard's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

<a href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/press/2024/september/update-regarding-chief-financial-officer-for-mastercard/" title="https://www.mastercard.com/news/press/2024/september/update-regarding-chief-financial-officer-for-mastercard/">https://www.mastercard.com/news/press/2024/september/update-regarding-chief-financial-officer-for-mastercard/</a>

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