Visa owns the Visa payment network and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker V.
Visa operates a global network that authorizes, clears, and settles electronic payments. It generally does not issue cards directly to consumers; banks and other financial institutions issue Visa-branded cards and set many customer terms.
The company became publicly traded in 2008 in one of the largest initial public offerings in United States history. Its market value reflects expectations about payment volume, international growth, operating margins, and the shift from cash to electronic transactions.
Visa is commonly confused with a bank because its logo appears on payment cards. However, its primary business is payment-network infrastructure, while card issuers provide credit, debit accounts, and customer relationships.