Mastercard steps into 2026 following a 14.5% quarterly dividend increase to $0.87, announced December 11, 2025, with the next ex-dividend date on January 09, 2026. The company is strategically positioned for the new year, emphasizing stablecoin integration, agentic commerce, and AI-driven security and payment processing. Despite these innovation efforts, Mastercard anticipates near-term revenue impacts from the Capital One migration. The stock closed December 31 at $570.90, down 1.13%, amid cautious market sentiment.