Key Highlights

  • Mastercard (NYSE:MA) is expected to report EPS of USD 5.16 on about USD 9.65 billion of revenue before the open on October 29, 2026, according to published consensus.
  • Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) is expected to report EPS of USD 7.03 on about USD 20.53 billion of revenue in the same pre-market window, making it a second large Thursday test.
  • Visa (NYSE:V) edged past estimates with EPS of USD 3.48 on USD 12.14 billion of revenue, then slipped about 2% after hours on a cautious payment-volume outlook.
  • Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) is treated as an AI-power and data-center capex proxy, so its order commentary may matter as much as Mastercard spending data for the market's mood on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Mastercard and the Visa Read-Through

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) reports with EPS seen at USD 5.16 and revenue near USD 9.65 billion. Its closest peer, Visa, reported on October 27, 2026 and showed a clean beat that still met profit-taking, with after-hours moves of about 1.96% to 2% lower and a cautious fiscal 2027 payment-volume view from one summary. For a card network, revenue follows cross-border travel, payment volume and fees, not credit losses, so the focus is volume growth and the outlook. If Mastercard (NYSE:MA) guides similarly cautiously, the sector could trade as a group. The estimates come from one calendar page, which can differ from other providers. A network that earns a fee on every transaction is less exposed to credit losses than a lender, so volume, not default risk, drives the debate.

Caterpillar as a Capex Gauge

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) is forecast at EPS of USD 7.03 on about USD 20.53 billion of revenue. The company sells engines, turbines and power equipment that feed data-center and construction projects, so recent announcements about AI financing, including Meta's raise of about USD 97.5 billion and Broadcom's USD 63 billion financing as reported, are the demand backdrop. The question is whether those commitments are already reaching orders and backlog. Commentary on pricing, tariffs and dealer inventories will help answer it, and the company reports in the same pre-market window as Mastercard. Dealers' inventory levels and tariff costs are additional variables, since they can change how orders convert into revenue and margins over the next several quarters.

Risks and What to Watch

Both reports land after the Federal Reserve decision on October 28, 2026, where a hold is priced near 93% and December hike odds sit near 73% to 75%. A hawkish tone could lift yields and weigh on both stocks. For Mastercard (NYSE:MA), watch volume growth and the fiscal outlook. For Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT), watch backlog, order rates and any change in guidance. The consensus figures come from a single table, so they should be treated as approximate until results appear. A mixed day, with one beat and one cautious outlook, is also possible, because the businesses respond to different forces and the two have rarely moved in lockstep.

Where Things Stand

The answer is that the two companies report together on October 29, 2026 because each gives a distinct read on spending: Mastercard (NYSE:MA) on consumer payments after Visa's cautious tone, and Caterpillar on AI-related capital projects. The consensus bars are USD 5.16 and USD 7.03 a share. Neither result is known yet, and the Fed decision on October 28 is the nearest macro catalyst. This is not investment advice.