15 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Look For in 2026

7. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

Market Capitalization: $633.58 Billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 179

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the best S&P 500 stocks to look for in 2026.

On January 15, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) announced that it has enabled Apple Pay support for Chinese Visa cardholders. Eligible customers from the partnering Chinese banks will be allowed to add their Visa cards to Apple Pay and make payments at global merchants that offer Visa payment services. This will cover in-store contactless transactions, in-app purchases, and online purchases.

The banks that will be offering Apple Pay to their users include Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, China CITIC Bank, Ping An Bank, and Industrial Bank. Visa is also working with some other banks to add to its Apple Pay network, such as Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, China Minsheng Bank, and China Everbright Bank. Visa Mainland China general manager Yin Xiaolong said:

As global digital payments develop rapidly, consumers increasingly expect mobile payment solutions that are smartphone-based and interoperable. Upholding our long‑standing commitment to the Chinese market and to our cardholders, Visa is increasing its investments in data and payment security, launching tokenisation services, and taking the lead in enabling their use in cross‑border scenarios.

Visa is focused on its strategy to expand digital payments for Chinese consumers, with transactions secured via Apple Pay authentication methods.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the leading payment technology companies with global operations. The company offers debit, credit, and prepaid cards to consumers. Visa operates VisaNet, a transaction-processing network that enables the authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions.