Summary
Mastercard Inc. reported solid financial results for the second quarter and the first half of 2012, demonstrating continued revenue growth and operational efficiency. Net revenues increased by 9% for the quarter and 13% year-to-date, driven by growth in processed transactions and increased dollar volume on cards bearing its brands. Despite a strengthening U.S. dollar impacting reported figures, the company maintained strong operating margins, reflecting effective cost management. A significant development during the quarter was the announcement of a preliminary settlement for the U.S. merchant class litigation, with an additional $20 million pre-tax charge recorded. While this resolution brings some clarity, it also introduces a new risk factor: the potential for merchants to surcharge credit cards, which could impact transaction volumes. The company's strong cash flow generation and robust balance sheet provide a stable financial foundation to navigate these, and other ongoing legal and regulatory challenges.
Financial Highlights
50 data points| Revenue | $1.82B |
| Operating Expenses | $846.00M |
| Operating Income | $974.00M |
| Interest Expense | $3.00M |
| Net Income | $700.00M |
| EPS (Basic) | $0.56 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $0.56 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 1.26B |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 1.26B |
Key Highlights
- 1Net revenues increased by 9% to $1.82 billion for Q2 2012 and by 13% to $3.58 billion for the first six months of 2012 compared to the prior year periods.
- 2Net income attributable to MasterCard grew by 15% to $700 million for Q2 2012 and by 18% to $1.38 billion for the first six months of 2012.
- 3Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) rose by 17% to $5.55 for Q2 2012 and by 21% to $10.91 for the first six months of 2012.
- 4Operating expenses increased by 8% for the quarter and 11% year-to-date, largely due to higher general and administrative costs and a provision for litigation settlement.
- 5The company accrued an additional $20 million pre-tax charge for the U.S. merchant litigations, following a $770 million charge in Q4 2011, as it moved towards a settlement.
- 6Mastercard announced a new $1.5 billion share repurchase program, continuing its commitment to returning capital to shareholders.
- 7The effective income tax rate decreased to 28.0% for Q2 2012 and 30.0% for the first six months of 2012, down from 31.8% and 32.3% respectively in the prior year periods, due to discrete tax benefits and a favorable geographic mix of earnings.