Online Spending Surge: U.S. shoppers spent $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 9.1% increase from last year, while in-store sales rose only 1.7%, highlighting a significant shift towards online shopping.
Impact of AI Tools: AI-driven tools from retailers like Walmart and Amazon significantly boosted online traffic, with visits to retail sites increasing by 805% compared to last year, contributing to $14.2 billion in online sales globally.
Consumer Caution: Despite high online sales, many consumers faced challenges due to rising prices, with order counts down 1% and average selling prices up 7%, indicating strain from tariffs and slow wage growth.
Future Expectations: Adobe predicts Cyber Monday will see $14.2 billion in sales, with electronics expected to have the largest price cuts, while store traffic may remain slow as consumers balance spending with inflation concerns.
Wall Street analysts forecast MA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MA is 684.13 USD with a low forecast of 525.00 USD and a high forecast of 1088 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
24 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast MA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MA is 684.13 USD with a low forecast of 525.00 USD and a high forecast of 1088 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
20 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 532.860
Low
525.00
Averages
684.13
High
1088
Current: 532.860
Low
525.00
Averages
684.13
High
1088
Truist
Buy
maintain
$630 -> $609
2026-01-20
New
Reason
Truist
Price Target
$630 -> $609
AI Analysis
2026-01-20
New
maintain
Buy
Reason
Truist lowered the firm's price target on MasterCard to $609 from $630 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares as part of a broader research note previewing Q4 earnings in FinTech. The quarter's results should be solid, although a tougher y/y comparison may limit volume-related beats, and while Truist is optimistic on the group throughout 2026, some management teams may look to reset Street expectations a bit lower with their original 2026 guidance, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
Freedom Capital
Mikhail Paramonov
Hold
maintain
$635 -> $655
2025-12-25
Reason
Freedom Capital
Mikhail Paramonov
Price Target
$635 -> $655
2025-12-25
maintain
Hold
Reason
Freedom Capital analyst Mikhail Paramonov raised the firm's price target on MasterCard (MA) to $655 from $635 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares. The firm cites the company's "strong" Q4 results for the target increase. Mastercard continues to post higher growth rates than Visa (V) despite its smaller scale, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
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Evercore ISI
In Line
maintain
$600 -> $610
2025-12-12
Reason
Evercore ISI
Price Target
$600 -> $610
2025-12-12
maintain
In Line
Reason
Evercore ISI raised the firm's price target on MasterCard (MA) to $610 from $600 and keeps an In Line rating on the shares. The firm also added the stock and shares of peer Visa (V) to the firm's "Tactical Outperform" list heading into year-end and into the Q4 earnings season, citing potential reversion of relative year-to-date underperformance, valuation and potential for increased investor interest into year-end.
Evercore ISI
In Line
maintain
$375 -> $380
2025-12-12
Reason
Evercore ISI
Price Target
$375 -> $380
2025-12-12
maintain
In Line
Reason
Evercore ISI raised the firm's price target on Visa (V) to $380 from $375 and keeps an In Line rating on the shares. The firm also added the stock and shares of peer MasterCard (MA) to the firm's "Tactical Outperform" list heading into year-end and into the Q4 earnings season, citing potential reversion of relative year-to-date underperformance, valuation and potential for increased investor interest into year-end.
About MA
Mastercard Incorporated is a technology company in the global payments industry. The Company connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, digital partners, businesses and other organizations worldwide by enabling electronic payments and making those payment transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. It provides a range of payment solutions and services using its brands, including Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus. It operates a payments network that provides choice and flexibility for consumers, merchants and its customers. Through its proprietary global payments network, it switches (authorizes, clears and settles) payment transactions. Its additional payments capabilities include automated clearing house (ACH) transactions (both batch and real-time account-based payments). It offers security solutions, consumer acquisition and engagement, business and market insights, gateway, processing and open banking, among other services and solutions.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
