Visa IPO Seeks MasterCard Riches

MasterCard(MA Quote) once again reported blowout earnings last week, bolstering predictions of a smooth ride for the much-anticipated IPO for its rival Visa.

Observers say Visa could go public sometime in the second half of the year, despite some market chatter that the offering date could be put on hold or that the pricing could be lower than observers initially hoped for, due to the general malaise in market conditions and concerns about the stalling consumer.

But while consumers seem to be struggling with payments on everything from cars to mortgages these days, it's clear that their use of plastic has not diminished -- and likely won't. ...