Visa (NYSE: V) is a favorite stock of mine. I really wish I'd owned it. I should have picked up shares on the last downturn ahead of its Q3 numbers, because the report that was issued on Wednesday was more gold than plastic, let me tell you.

Revenues increased 18% to $1.6 billion. That in and of itself is great growth, but there are other metrics surrounding the revenue story that stand out as well. Total payment transactions jumped 15%. Payments volume increased 19%. Total processed transactions soared 13%. And there was a 14% expansion in the number of Visa cards that are out there. And now, for the bottom line. Earnings per share came in at $0.59, which was $0.11 ahead of analyst expectations, according to Briefing.com. Debit cards and international exposure were drivers in Q3.

Like competitor MasterCard (NYSE: MA), Visa is a great investment idea because it isn't based on financial risk so much as it is based on transaction quantities. As the holidays approach, and as the economy softens, consumers may choose to use their Visa cards on trips to Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Target (NYSE: TGT). In addition, consumers use cards simply for the sake of convenience. Whether used for financing or as a substitute for fiddling with cash at the point of sale, credit/debit cards should see increased usage over time. Visa's Q3, to me, shows that it is marketing its service properly, expanding upon its brand value, and benefiting from the economic malaise.