The London-based investment management firm stated that it now owns both Visa and Mastercard, viewing payments as one of the few sectors expected to grow regardless of AI advancements. Fundsmith noted Mastercard's classic network effect, the large unbanked global population, the ongoing shift from cash to digital payments, and the expansion into the larger business-to-business (B2B) payments market as key drivers for future growth. Mastercard closed at $573.10 per share on July 31, 2026.