Visa's first quarter tops Wall Street expectations

FOSTER CITY, Calif. - Visa's (V) fiscal first-quarter net income increased 9 percent, benefiting from solid payments volume growth. Its performance beat analysts' expectations. 

The world's largest processor of debit and credit card payments earned $1.41 billion, or $2.20 per share, for the three months ended Dec. 31. That's up from $1.29 billion, or $1.93 per share, in the prior-year period. 

Analysts surveyed by FactSet predicted earnings of $2.16 per share. 

Operating revenue rose 11 percent to $3.16 billion from $2.85 billion, helped by higher revenue for service, data processing and international transactions. 

Wall Street was looking for $3.13 billion in revenue. 

First-quarter payments volume climbed 11 percent to $1.2 trillion on a constant dollar basis. Payments volume growth for the three months ended Sept. 30 - on which first-quarter service revenue is recognized - increased 13 percent to $1.1 trillion on a constant dollar basis. 

Visa Inc. reaffirmed its fiscal 2014 guidance for mid-to-high teens growth in earnings per share and a low double-digit increase in revenue, on a constant dollar basis. 

The company also declared a quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on March 4 to shareholders of record on Feb. 14. 

Visa's shares gained $8.78, or 4 percent, to $225.90 before the market open.