MasterCard the second-biggest U.S. payments network, posted fourth-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates as customers made more purchases. The shares climbed in early trading.

Net income excluding litigation charges increased 18 percent to $605 million, or $4.86 a share, from $514 million, or $4.03, a year earlier, the Purchase, New York-based company said today in a statement. The average estimate of 33 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was $4.80 a share.