Motley Fool analysis highlights Visa’s cashless economy position despite exclusion from top stock picks
An analysis published on 7 June 2026 argues Visa remains a strong vehicle for the secular decline of physical currency, projecting 13% to 14% annualised returns, though the Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor team has not included the stock in its current top 10 recommendations.
An analysis published on 7 June 2026 by The Motley Fool posits that Visa (NYSE: V) remains a compelling investment vehicle aligned with the secular trend of declining physical currency usage. The report argues that the convenience and security of transacting without physical money or paper-based methods continue to drive durable growth for the payment network, despite the market’s recent focus on artificial intelligence.
During the first three months of 2026, corresponding to Visa’s fiscal second quarter of 2026, the company processed $4.4 trillion in total payment volume. The analysis highlights the scale of Visa’s infrastructure, noting 5.1 billion cards in use globally, adoption in more than 200 countries and territories, and acceptance at 175 million merchant locations.
The author contends that emerging innovations from fintech companies and stablecoins do not necessarily threaten Visa’s dominance. Instead, the analysis suggests these developments act as different on-ramps that spur cashless transactions, thereby benefiting Visa through powerful network effects. The report notes that Visa is also exploring stablecoin initiatives, arguing that consumer preference for credit card perks and rewards limits the immediate threat posed by cryptocurrency alternatives.
Financial metrics cited in the report underscore the company’s profitability and recent valuation shifts. Visa’s net profit margin for the last fiscal quarter stood at 53.6%, while its price-to-earnings ratio has declined by 24% over the past 12 months to 28.5. Between fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2025, adjusted earnings per share grew at a compound annual rate of 15.2%, with analysts projecting a 13.5% yearly rise over the next three years.
Based on these bottom-line performance expectations, the analysis projects annualised returns of 13% to 14% for the stock. However, the report clarifies that The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor analyst team did not include Visa in its current list of the 10 best stocks to buy, a selection process that has historically highlighted high-growth opportunities such as Netflix and Nvidia.
The Motley Fool has disclosed positions in and recommends Visa, although the author, Neil Patel, has no position in the stock. The analysis serves as a counterpoint to the exclusion from the top 10 list, framing Visa as a stable bet on the ongoing obsolescence of cash rather than a high-velocity growth play.
