MasterCard Earnings Soar in First Quarter

MasterCard Incorporated announced financial results for the first-quarter 2007. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $215 million, or $1.57 per share, on a diluted basis, the highest quarterly net income ever recorded by the company. Net revenues for the quarter were $915 million, a 23.9% increase versus the same period in 2006. Currency fluctuation (driven by the movement of the euro relative to the US dollar) contributed approximately 2.5% of the increase in revenues for the quarter.

Fueling the higher revenue in the first quarter versus the same period in 2006 was growth in MasterCard’s gross dollar volume (GDV), which increased 16.4%, on a local currency basis, to $509 billion; a 19.4% increase in the number of transactions processed to 4.2 billion; and, a restructuring of pricing, primarily cross-border transaction fees implemented in April 2006, which contributed approximately 5% of the revenue growth. Worldwide purchase volume rose 18.0%, on a local currency basis, during the quarter to $375 billion, driven by increased cardholder spending on a growing number of MasterCard cards. As of March 31, 2007, the company’s customers had issued 835 million MasterCard cards, an increase of 11.3% percent over the cards issued at March 31, 2006.

"We are very pleased with our first-quarter financial results, which reflect the highest quarterly net income in MasterCard’s history," said Robert W. Selander, MasterCard president and chief executive officer. "These results continue to demonstrate the strength of our business model and growth in electronic forms of payment. Additionally, positive secular trends and business momentum, particularly in international markets, have contributed to a strong start to the year.

"This quarter’s strong volume growth, especially in markets within the South Asia/Middle East/Africa and Latin America regions, illustrates the success of our strategy and our ability to leverage our unique assets – our unified global structure, world renowned brands and advanced processing network — worldwide," said Selander.

Total operating expenses increased 8.2%, to $601 million during the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. This was primarily driven by an increase in personnel costs related to the hiring of additional staff to strengthen the company’s capability to add value to its customers’ businesses, and higher professional fees primarily related to legal costs to defend outstanding litigation. Offsetting this increase was a 2.3% decrease in advertising and market development expenses reflecting a shift in planned spending to later quarters this year. Currency fluctuation contributed approximately 1.9% of the increase in expenses for the quarter.

Total other income was $22 million in the first quarter 2007 versus $10 million in the first quarter of 2006. The increase was primarily driven by a $16 million increase in investment income due to higher rates earned on higher cash and short-term investment balances. MasterCard’s effective tax rate of 36.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus the 34.3% rate experienced in the same period in 2006, increased primarily due to state income tax expense.