Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The market expects Western Union (WU - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis money transfer company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.01 billion, down 1.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.67% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Western Union?For Western Union, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -6.50%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Western Union will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Western Union would post earnings of $0.4 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.25, delivering a surprise of -37.50%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Western Union doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerPaypal (PYPL - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.28 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -8.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $8.51 billion, up 2.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Paypal has been revised 0.2% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -0.02%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Paypal will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 21st, 2026

Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU – Free Report) by 52.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 520,779 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after buying an additional 179,423 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. owned 0.17% of Western Union worth $4,547,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its stake in shares of Western Union by 606.7% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 3,265 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 2,803 shares in the last quarter. Ascentis Independent Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Western Union during the first quarter valued at about $30,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its holdings in Western Union by 1,546.5% in the fourth quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 3,326 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 3,124 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in Western Union by 67.0% in the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 3,331 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,336 shares during the period. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its stake in Western Union by 179.6% during the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 3,341 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 2,146 shares during the period. 91.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Western Union In related news, insider Benjamin Carlton Adams sold 19,924 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.23, for a total value of $183,898.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 234,689 shares in the company, valued at $2,166,179.47. This trade represents a 7.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Giovanni Angelini sold 6,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.47, for a total value of $56,820.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 311,292 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,947,935.24. The trade was a 1.89% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Corporate insiders own 3.29% of the company’s stock.

Western Union Stock Performance Shares of WU opened at $8.71 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.88, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $7.88 and its 200-day moving average is $8.83. The Western Union Company has a 12-month low of $6.91 and a 12-month high of $10.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.46.

Western Union (NYSE:WU – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 24th. The credit services provider reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.40 by ($0.15). The business had revenue of $963.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.06 billion. Western Union had a net margin of 10.88% and a return on equity of 55.94%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.41 earnings per share. Western Union has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.750-1.850 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Western Union Company will post 1.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Western Union Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 16th were issued a dividend of $0.235 per share. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 16th. Western Union’s dividend payout ratio is currently 69.12%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In WU has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Western Union from $9.00 to $8.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Western Union from $9.50 to $8.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Barclays initiated coverage on Western Union in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. They set an “underweight” rating and a $7.00 price target for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut Western Union from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research report on Friday, June 5th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $8.45.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WU

About Western Union (Free Report)

Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. The company enables individuals and businesses to send and receive money through a variety of channels, including its vast agent network, online platforms, and mobile applications. Core services include person-to-person money transfers, business-to-business cross-border payments, bill payment services and prepaid card programs.

Through its digital offerings, Western Union provides customers with the ability to initiate transfers via its website and mobile app, as well as track transactions in real time.

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DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) announced today that Chief Executive Officer, Devin McGranahan, and Chief Financial Officer, Matt Cagwin, will host a webcast and conference call to discuss second quarter 2026 results on July 30, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET. A press release highlighting the financial results will be issued before the call.

The webcast and presentation will be available at https://ir.westernunion.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the event.

To listen to the webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website or use the following link: Webcast Link. Alternatively, participants may join via telephone. In the U.S., dial + 1 719 359 4580, followed by the meeting ID, which is 974 4233 9241, and the passcode, which is 697572. For participants outside the U.S., dial the country number from the international directory, followed by the meeting ID, which is 974 4233 9241, and the passcode, which is 697572. Participants are encouraged to join at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and nearly 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

WU-G

Western Union (WU - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $7.82, moving +1.3% from the previous trading session. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.81%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.27%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 1.3%.

Shares of the money transfer company have appreciated by 5.03% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Business Services sector's gain of 2.42%, and the S&P 500's gain of 1.13%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Western Union in its upcoming release. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.43, signifying a 2.38% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.04 billion, up 1.51% from the year-ago period.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $1.76 per share and a revenue of $4.26 billion, demonstrating changes of +0.57% and +5.21%, respectively, from the preceding year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Western Union. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Western Union is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.

In terms of valuation, Western Union is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 4.39. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 11.35.

One should further note that WU currently holds a PEG ratio of 0.98. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Financial Transaction Services was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.81 at yesterday's closing price.

The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 65, which puts it in the top 27% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.

Key Takeaways Western Union partnered with Total Wireless to add one monthly fee-free money transfer.WU embeds remittance services into wireless plans to boost digital engagement and recurring usage.Western Union will promote Total Wireless across its digital channels, expanding reach to shared customers. The Western Union Company (WU - Free Report) has partnered with Total Wireless to introduce a first-of-its-kind benefit in the U.S. telecom industry. Customers on Total Wireless' MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G and ALL ACCESS plans can now make one fee-free money transfer every month through Western Union. The service enables transfers to more than 200 countries and territories, combining wireless connectivity with cross-border financial services in a single subscription.

The new feature is aimed at customers who regularly send money overseas. Eligible subscribers can redeem one complimentary transfer through the Western Union website or mobile app. Recipients can receive funds through more than 360,000 payout locations or via bank accounts, digital wallets and cards. The benefit complements unlimited 5G data, hotspot access and international calling already included in the plans.

The partnership also extends beyond customer benefits. WU will promote Total Wireless through its app, email campaigns, social channels and in-store digital displays — giving both companies broader access to overlapping customer segments. The collaboration reflects a shared focus on serving communities that rely on affordable communication and dependable cross-border money transfers to support family members abroad.

This partnership is strategically meaningful for Western Union as it embeds the company's services into a recurring consumer subscription rather than relying solely on transaction-driven customer acquisition. Integrating money transfers into everyday products could encourage more consistent usage, strengthen customer loyalty and create new distribution channels through non-financial partners. As digital remittance competition intensifies, expanding through ecosystem partnerships may become an increasingly valuable growth driver.

Western Union continues to diversify beyond its traditional agent-based business by strengthening digital capabilities and pursuing strategic alliances. Partnerships like this could help Western Union increase customer engagement and drive higher digital transaction volumes. If extended to other subscription-based businesses, this strategy could create new revenue opportunities and strengthen its long-term competitive position in the global remittance market.

WU’s Price PerformanceOver the past year, WU shares have declined 13.3% compared with the industry’s fall of 22.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WU’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksWU currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some top-ranked stocks in the business services space are Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) , Dave Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) and Green Dot Corporation (GDOT - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sezzle’s current-year earnings is pinned at $5.09 per share and has witnessed four upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Sezzle beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 17.4%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $592.6 million, implying 31.6% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dave’s current-year earnings is pinned at $16.61 per share and has witnessed one upward revision in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Dave beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 45.8%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $713.7 million, implying 28.8% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Green Dot’s current-year earnings is pinned at $1.68 per share and has witnessed one upward revision in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Green Dot beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $2.2 billion, implying 8.3% year-over-year growth.

NUEVA YORK Y DENVER, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Total Wireless, proveedor de servicios inalámbricos de rápido crecimiento y sin contrato, impulsado por la red 5G de Verizon. Hoy, anunció una asociación oficial con Western Union para ofrecer, por primera vez en la industria, un beneficio de transferencias de dinero para sus clientes moviles. A partir de hoy, los clientes con los planes Total Wireless MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G y ALL ACCESS recibirán una transferencia de dinero mensual sin costo. Con la posibilidad de enviar fondos a más de 200 países y territorios a través de la red global de Western Union, los clientes pueden mantenerse conectados de más de una manera.

Esta asociación establece un hito en la industria. Total Wireless es hoy el único proveedor inalámbrico en Estados Unidos que ofrece una transferencia de dinero mensual como parte de sus planes. El beneficio cubre la tarifa de la transacción, brindando valor real a la base de clientes de ambas marcas. Es también un nuevo capítulo para las telecomunicaciones, construido en torno a las realidades financieras de las comunidades que históricamente han sido desatendidas.

Diseñado para la manera en que los clientes se mantienen conectados
Millones de personas en los Estados Unidos envían dinero al exterior cada año, con un promedio de más de 12 transacciones anuales. Con Total Wireless, las familias ahorran en comisiones de transferencia para que cada dólar llegue más lejos.

Para millones de familias, enviar dinero a casa es una de las formas más profundas de cuidar a los suyos. Total Wireless fue creado para ofrecer conectividad de primer nivel con beneficios que reflejan cómo sus clientes viven y se apoyan entre sí.

"Total Wireless fue creado con la convicción de que un buen plan inalámbrico debe hacer más por sus clientes", dijo David Kim, presidente de Verizon Value. "Incorporar una transferencia de dinero de Western Union en nuestros planes refleja algo en lo que creemos profundamente: nadie debería tener que elegir entre estar conectado y cuidar a los suyos. Estamos orgullosos de ser los primeros en construir pensando en eso".

Cómo funciona
Para los clientes con los planes Total Wireless MAX 5G BYO, MAX 5G y ALL ACCESS, la posibilidad de enviar dinero a casa está integrada directamente en su plan. Estos planes van desde $25 al mes (MAX 5G BYO para clientes que traen su propio dispositivo) hasta $60 al mes (ALL ACCESS) con pago automático. Cada uno incluye funciones de primer nivel como datos 5G ilimitados, hotspot ilimitado y llamadas y mensajes de texto internacionales ilimitados a más de 200 países. Todo esto con una garantía de precio de cinco años que incluye impuestos y cargos.

El beneficio de Western Union ofrece una razón más para elegir un plan diseñado para mantenerse conectado con las personas que más importan:

Una transferencia de dinero mensual gratuita, sin cargo: sin comisión de transacción disponible de forma integrada como parte de los planes premium seleccionados.Fácil acceso: disponible en línea en westernunion.com o a través de la aplicación de Western Union.Alcance global: envía dinero a familiares y amigos en más de 200 países y territorios.Red de confianza: más de 360,000 ubicaciones de pago de Western Union, con entrega a cuentas bancarias, billeteras digitales y tarjetas, garantizan una entrega rápida y confiable a destinatarios en todo el mundo. "Sabemos lo mucho que significa enviar dinero a casa. Diseñamos estos planes para asegurarnos de que, al menos una vez al mes, corra por nuestra cuenta", dijo Kim.

Alianza con Western Union
La alianza va más allá del beneficio del plan, uniendo a dos marcas que sirven a comunidades que dependen de una conectividad asequible con sus seres queridos a través de las fronteras. Western Union co-promocionará Total Wireless a través de sus propios canales de comunicación con los clientes, incluyendo la aplicación de Western Union, comunicaciones por correo electrónico, redes sociales y pantallas digitales en tiendas.

"Durante generaciones, Western Union ha ayudado a las personas a mover dinero a través de las fronteras porque entendemos lo que representa cada transferencia: no solo dólares, sino nuestra misión de hacer que los servicios financieros sean accesibles para todos", dijo Jesse Mory, vicepresidente sénior de Alianzas Estratégicas de Western Union. "Al asociarnos con Total Wireless, facilitamos que los clientes apoyen a quienes dependen de ellos, convirtiendo un plan inalámbrico de todos los días en una forma más significativa de mantenerse conectados, cuidar a sus seres queridos y mover dinero con confianza".

Acerca de Total Wireless
Total Wireless es un proveedor inalámbrico de rápido crecimiento, sin contrato, respaldado por la red 5G de Verizon, con 2,000 tiendas exclusivas en todo el país. Con la misión de elevar el estándar en telefonía prepagada, Total Wireless ofrece más valor que cualquier otro proveedor sin contrato, con planes que incluyen datos ilimitados y acceso a la red Verizon 5G Ultra-Wideband, precios garantizados por cinco años (impuestos y cargos incluidos), teléfonos 5G gratuitos seleccionados con planes de compra calificados, y más. Una marca comprometida con la comunidad, Total Wireless se enorgullece de apoyar vecindarios en todo el país a través de su programa Total Spark, que otorga subvenciones a organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales para apoyar a estudiantes trabajadores. Total Wireless es parte del portafolio de marcas prepagadas de Verizon Value, que incluye Straight Talk, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile y Verizon Prepaid.

Contactos de medios de Total Wireless:
Alison Hemmings [email protected]
Lindsey Cohen [email protected]

Acerca de Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) está comprometida a ayudar a personas en todo el mundo que aspiran a construir un futuro financiero para sí mismas, sus seres queridos y sus comunidades. Nuestros servicios líderes de transferencia de dinero transfronteriza y entre divisas, pagos y servicios financieros digitales empoderan a consumidores, empresas, instituciones financieras y gobiernos en más de 200 países y territorios y en casi 130 monedas, para conectarse con miles de millones de cuentas bancarias, millones de billeteras digitales y tarjetas, y una red global de cientos de miles de puntos de venta minoristas. Nuestro objetivo es ofrecer servicios financieros accesibles que ayuden a las personas y comunidades a prosperar. Para más información, visita www.westernunion.com.

Contacto de medios de Western Union: [email protected]

Una foto asociada con este comunicado de prensa está disponible en: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d06fdb7b-5b04-4d42-bdc5-d107e17c006b/es

Total Wireless se convierte en el primer operador de EE. UU. en incluir transferencias de dinero de ... Total Wireless se convierte en el primer operador de EE. UU. en incluir transferencias de dinero de ...

Western Union (WU - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $7.24, demonstrating a +2.99% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.35%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.43%.

The money transfer company's stock has dropped by 14.79% in the past month, falling short of the Business Services sector's loss of 2.53% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Western Union in its upcoming release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.43, up 2.38% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $1.04 billion, up 1.51% from the prior-year quarter.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $1.76 per share and a revenue of $4.26 billion, indicating changes of +0.57% and +5.21%, respectively, from the former year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Western Union. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Western Union currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

With respect to valuation, Western Union is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 4. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 10.21, which means Western Union is trading at a discount to the group.

Meanwhile, WU's PEG ratio is currently 0.9. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. Financial Transaction Services stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 0.75 based on yesterday's closing prices.

The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 78, putting it in the top 32% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.

Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).

Editor’s note: “Why X Money Could Be Bigger Than PayPal Ever Was” was previously published in May 2026. It has since been updated to include the most relevant information available.

When you think about Elon Musk’s defining business achievements, what comes to mind?

Tesla (TSLA) — the company that pulled off a 20,000% stock run and turned skeptical engineers into reluctant millionaires? SpaceX — the rocket company that went from a laughingstock to a $2-trillion juggernaut and is now the most anticipated IPO in history?

As impressive as those growth stories are, they may not be the endgame… 

Almost entirely outside the focus of mainstream financial media, Elon Musk is executing the most audacious move of his entire career — one he has been plotting for 27 years. It’s a move that targets not a single industry, but the foundation of how money itself flows through the global economy.

He calls it X Money.

Elon Musk’s 27-Year Battle to Reinvent Banking  Back in 1999, Elon Musk — then 28 years old, flush with $22 million from selling his first company — poured nearly everything he had into a single idea: that the entire global financial system could live at a single web address.

Banking. Payments. Investments. Insurance. Loans. All of it. One platform. Instant transactions. No waiting for payments to clear. No middlemen skimming fees at every step.

He called it X.com, and within two months of launch, it had 200,000 users. 

Around the same time, another startup — Peter Thiel’s Confinity — was growing rapidly with its own digital payments product. The two companies were locked in a costly battle for users, burning cash to dominate the emerging online-payments market. In 2000, they merged under the X.com umbrella in an attempt to survive the dot-com crash and consolidate market share. But the merger quickly devolved into an internal civil war over leadership, strategy, and Musk’s vision for the company. 

Then came the coup.

Peter Thiel and his allies called an emergency board meeting while Elon and his new wife were mid-air on a honeymoon flight to Sydney. By the time the plane landed, Musk had been forced out of his own company. His partners hated the name X and changed it to PayPal (PYPL). The dream of a unified financial OS — dead on arrival.

Why Buying Twitter Was Never Really About Social Media  That was 27 years ago.

Elon Musk never forgot — and never stopped wanting to finish what he started.

In 2022, he saw his chance. He bought Twitter for $44 billion. The mainstream media mocked him relentlessly. ‘Classic Musk, overpaying for a failing social media company.’ 

But Musk didn’t buy Twitter because he wanted to own a social media company. He bought Twitter as a distribution layer, with a user base of hundreds of millions of people already using the platform daily.

He renamed it X, partnered with Visa (V) — the financial network that processes more electronic payments than any company in the world — and secured money-transmitter licenses in all 50 states. And he brought X into his broader empire, merging it with the AI firepower of xAI.

Suddenly, everything makes sense. The rebrand. The financial licenses. The Visa deal. The White House executive order directing the Treasury, State Department, HHS, Veterans Affairs, Education, and Homeland Security to modernize electronic payment rails. 

Musk didn’t just build a product. He built the regulatory infrastructure to go with it. In fact, as he’s said: “If done right, X would be half of the global financial system.”

Well, that system is worth $480 trillion. If Musk is right about X Money, it’s more than a startup chasing a billion-dollar market. 

It’s an attempt to transform one of the most deeply embedded systems in the global economy. 

Every Financial Infrastructure Shift Creates New Winners  Every time technology fundamentally changes how money moves, entirely new financial giants emerge alongside it. 

Telegraphs Created Western Union  By the 1850s, telegraph lines were rapidly connecting American cities, allowing information — and eventually money — to move across the country almost instantly. Western Union (WU) quickly realized that the same network transmitting information could also move money — and turned wire transfers into a national business. Western Union was one of the original 11 companies listed on the Dow Transportation Index in 1884. Technology met money. Fortunes were made.

Credit Cards Built Financial Giants  In 1950, Frank McNamara launched the Diners Club card — the world’s first multipurpose charge card. It was designed to allow business travelers to pay at multiple restaurants without carrying cash. The card’s success gave birth to the ‘plastic money’ revolution. American Express (AXP) rode the wave to nearly 10,000% gains. Mastercard (MA) ultimately rose 14,000%. 

The Internet Birthed PayPal  In 1998, PayPal set out to make sending money as easy as sending an email. Within four years, it had 20 million users and went public on Nasdaq. Early investors who got in at the IPO price of $13 saw the stock eventually reach $310 at its peak — a 2,300% gain. Those who bought in the months after the dot-com crash, when the stock briefly traded under $5, did even better.

Now the next chapter is being written. And if history is any guide, the investors who recognize it earliest will be the ones who benefit most.

What X Money Actually Is Most people might hear “X Money” and think it’s just another glorified peer-to-peer payment app, like Venmo or CashApp.

But here’s why that take is fundamentally wrong.

X Money is being built to consolidate payments, banking, investing, and financial identity inside a single platform.  

The physical manifestation of this is a debit card — embedded with a sophisticated microchip — that Musk has already begun mailing to thousands of Americans. That chip contains technology capable of processing encrypted payments, identity verification, and account authentication almost instantaneously. 

But the card is just the consumer-facing layer of this OS. Beneath it sits an integrated financial platform that brings together:

A digital wallet built into an app already used by over 1 billion people worldwide Instant peer-to-peer payments Direct bank account integration Brokerage and investment functionality, allowing users to buy stocks directly inside the app Portfolio management across all financial assets Social Security income, tax payments, paychecks — all managed in one place Yields between 4% and 6% APY — roughly 10x what most Americans earn at traditional banks Musk has been explicit about his ambition here: “If it involves money, it’ll be on our platform. I’m talking about someone’s entire financial life.” 

And lest you think this is science fiction, just look to China. WeChat — which is also called “The Everything App” — launched its banking features in 2013. Within a few years, nearly 1 billion people were using that app to pay for groceries, invest in the market, split restaurant bills, and send money to family. Mobile payments now account for over 80% of all transactions in China. Tencent, WeChat’s parent company, rewarded investors with a 20x return when mobile banking took off.

X Money is the American version of that story. Except Elon Musk has significantly more users, significantly more political tailwind, and significantly more audacity.

The Investment Pattern Investors Keep Missing  This is the pattern investors should be paying closest attention to. 

Elon Musk has a well-documented history of turning early partners and adjacent companies into massive multi-baggers. 

Nvidia (NVDA) was trading at $15 when Jensen Huang personally delivered the first DGX-1 — an “AI supercomputer in a box” — to OpenAI, the then-small startup co-founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman. That early relationship helped train the models that eventually became ChatGPT — and Nvidia never looked back. It’s now worth nearly $5 trillion and trades at more than $200/share. Early investors made 5,000%-plus. Modine Manufacturing (MOD) partnered with Tesla on battery cooling systems in 2012, when the stock was trading at $5. MOD recently hit an all-time high of $280 — a 5,500% gain. Carpenter Technology (CRS), a 135-year-old metals company, supplied SpaceX with superalloys for Starship. The stock surged 2,000%. In each case, the gains were tied to companies supplying critical infrastructure to a rapidly scaling platform. 

And right now, X Money is creating a new set of partners, suppliers, infrastructure providers, and financial rails that could follow that exact same pattern.

The Bottom Line: X Money Is a Bet on Financial Consolidation  Every major upgrade in the infrastructure of money has created a new class of winners. 

Telegraphs built Western Union. Credit cards built American Express and Mastercard. The internet built PayPal. 

X Money is the next great systematic upgrade. And it is underway right now, as you’re reading these words.

There is a set of stocks that I believe will be the direct beneficiaries of this rollout — companies positioned to provide the financial infrastructure, payment rails, technology integrations, and adjacent services that an endeavor of this scale requires. 

The same way Nvidia rode the AI build-out and Modine rode the Tesla production ramp, there are companies today that will ride the X Money megatrend.

I’ve spent months identifying them, running the same research process I used when I spotted AMD (AMD) before it exploded 13,500%, Palantir (PLTR) before it rose 1,200%, and Shopify (SHOP) before it jumped 1,700%.

I’ve detailed them all in a brand-new special report called How to Make 1,000% From the Bank of Elon.

Here’s everything I know — my complete research, model portfolio, and daily market intelligence — on this very topic.

Western Union (NYSE:WU) reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of about $1.0 billion and said it is seeing early signs of stabilization in the U.S. remittance market, even as profitability fell short of management’s expectations due to a mix of seasonal factors, investment spending, and a foreign exchange loss.

Chief Executive Officer Devin McGranahan said the company is “beginning to show stabilization and even potentially signs of improvement” in key U.S.-to-Latin America corridors after steep declines in 2025, while also outlining a series of recent and pending acquisitions and upcoming launches tied to the company’s digital asset strategy.

Quarter results show improving transaction trends, but lower EPS In the quarter, Western Union reported GAAP revenue of $983 million, according to CFO Matt Cagwin. McGranahan said the company reported $1 billion of revenue and that, on an adjusted basis, revenue declined 1% year-over-year—an improvement of roughly 400 basis points from the fourth quarter.

McGranahan said Consumer Money Transfer (CMT) transactions were “slightly positive” year-over-year for the first time since the first quarter of 2025, while cross-border principal again grew at a mid-single-digit pace. However, adjusted earnings per share fell to $0.25 from $0.41 a year earlier. McGranahan said the EPS result was “below our expectations,” attributing the outcome to quarter-specific items and a seasonal change linked to the growth of the Travel Money business.

Cagwin said adjusted operating margin was 13% and reiterated that the company had previously flagged the first quarter as a lower margin period. He cited several drivers:

Absence of vendor incentive payments in Q1, which he said the company expects to receive later in the year Higher costs tied to new agent signings A foreign currency loss Seasonality in Travel Money, which has “lower fixed cost coverage” in the first quarter During the Q&A, Cagwin said roughly half of the year-over-year earnings decline was tied to factors management anticipated, including vendor incentive timing and Travel Money seasonality. He added that two items were not anticipated eight weeks earlier: an FX loss that was “multiple pennies of EPS,” and what he described as a temporary “dislocation” in the company’s “dual track” of investing for growth while pulling costs out of legacy operations.

Americas remittances stabilize; branded digital growth accelerates McGranahan said Western Union’s retail business in the Americas continued to face headwinds linked to geopolitical conditions, but that performance has improved from the “steep declines” seen in mid-2025. He pointed to strength in a number of corridors—such as Italy to Morocco, France to Cameroon, and Kuwait to Bangladesh—while noting continued weakness in the Americas, particularly the U.S. to Mexico corridor. Still, he said the U.S.-to-Mexico transaction growth rate improved by 350 basis points compared with the fourth quarter.

McGranahan also highlighted signs of improved trends across corridors such as U.S. to Ecuador and U.S. to Guatemala, while noting not all markets have improved, citing U.S. to Colombia as still weak. He said March revenue growth rates in several corridors were “800 basis points or better” relative to lows last summer.

On the digital side, McGranahan said Branded Digital transactions grew 21% and adjusted revenue rose 6%, driven by relationships signed in the Middle East. He said the gap between transaction and revenue growth reflected mix and pricing factors, including growth in “lower RPT corridors,” continued increases in payout to account, and promotional offers aimed at customer acquisition. Cagwin added that the quarter marked the 10th consecutive quarter of revenue growth for Branded Digital, with the Middle East described as a major growth region.

Cagwin said account payout transactions grew more than 45% in the quarter, calling it the strongest quarterly growth Western Union has seen in four years.

Consumer Services boosted by Travel Money and bill pay Consumer Services adjusted revenue increased 33% in the quarter, driven by Travel Money—led by eurochange—and growth in consumer bill pay, management said. Consumer Services represented 14% of total revenue in the quarter, according to Cagwin.

McGranahan said the Travel Money business is expected to approach $150 million in revenue in 2026, “up from nearly nothing a few years ago.” Cagwin said Western Union expects Travel Money to be a $150 million business this year and said the company sees a “durable path to double-digit growth” in the Consumer Services segment over time, driven by organic expansion, acquisitions, and digital innovation.

McGranahan also discussed how the conflict in the Middle East affected results: he said travel from Europe to the Middle East declined, which hurt Travel Money in the U.K. in the first quarter, while outbound remittances from the region saw “a moderate acceleration” early in the conflict.

M&A: Lana and Dash closed; Intermex pending McGranahan said Western Union has shifted from “complete capital return” to a more balanced approach that includes targeted acquisitions intended to expand corridor strength, platform functionality, and product offerings.

He said the company closed the acquisition of Lana in Mexico last month. McGranahan said the deal provides a license to launch a digital wallet in Mexico later this year on the Beyond digital platform and is expected to strengthen wallet-to-wallet capabilities. He described the opportunity as a way to enable a “two-sided network” and potentially reduce commission expense while opening new revenue streams.

Earlier in the month, Western Union completed the acquisition of Dash, Singtel’s digital wallet business in Singapore. McGranahan said Dash adds technology and distribution capabilities intended to accelerate digital onboarding and improve cross-payment efficiency in Southeast Asia. In discussing the rationale, Cagwin emphasized the importance of local licensing and talent, saying the acquisitions bring licenses and “really strong tech talent” that can help the company accelerate wallet expansion across Asia.

McGranahan said Western Union expects to close the acquisition of Intermex in the current quarter, subject to regulatory approvals, and that only one jurisdiction remains. He said the deal is expected to strengthen agent network density, improve corridor economics, and reinforce leadership in the U.S., while offering cost synergies that could exceed the company’s previously disclosed $30 million synergy target. He added he expects synergies to be “front-loaded” compared with the original two-year timeline. Cagwin said Intermex would add about 10,000 U.S. agent locations and strengthen the retail footprint in key Latin America corridors.

Separately, management reiterated that eurochange has added scale to the company’s Travel Money platform in the U.K.

Digital assets: stablecoin, network launch, and Stable Card rollout McGranahan said Western Union is moving from “launch readiness” to scaling in digital assets. He said the company’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, USDPT, is in its final stages of readiness and “expected to go live next month.” He described USDPT’s initial role as an institutional tool rather than a consumer product, aimed at improving settlement processes with agent partners compared with traditional banking rails.

He also said Western Union’s Digital Asset Network (DAN) is set to launch its first partner “next week,” enabling digital asset wallet users to convert to local currency using Western Union’s retail network. McGranahan said the partner pipeline represents “tens of millions of crypto wallets globally.”

Looking further ahead, McGranahan said the company plans to launch a consumer-oriented “U.S. dollar Stable Card” later this year, allowing customers to hold value in stablecoin form and spend globally wherever cards are accepted. He said the initial rollout is expected across “dozens of markets” later in 2026, with initial launches in select countries within the next 90 to 180 days.

Cash flow, capital return, and 2026 outlook reaffirmed Western Union generated $109 million in operating cash flow in the first quarter, down 26% year-over-year due to lower operating profit, Cagwin said. Capital expenditures were $47 million, up year-over-year, driven by higher agent signing bonuses. The company ended the quarter with $900 million in cash flow equivalence and $2.6 billion of debt, with gross and net leverage of 2.8x and 1.8x, respectively, according to Cagwin.

The company returned more than $120 million to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases during the quarter. Cagwin also said the Intermex acquisition will be funded with a delayed draw bank facility, and leverage is expected to be elevated for 12 to 18 months after closing.

For full-year 2026, Cagwin reaffirmed guidance, assuming “no macroeconomic changes and no significant impact from the conflict in the Middle East.” The company continues to expect adjusted revenue growth of 6% to 9%, inclusive of the Intermex acquisition, and adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $1.85. Cagwin said he expects second-quarter EPS to be similar to last year and to accelerate in the back half of 2026 on improving remittance trends, new agent wins, Travel Money seasonality, and benefits from operating efficiency efforts, including Intermex synergies and lower vendor and labor costs supported by process optimization and AI.

About Western Union (NYSE:WU) Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. The company enables individuals and businesses to send and receive money through a variety of channels, including its vast agent network, online platforms, and mobile applications. Core services include person-to-person money transfers, business-to-business cross-border payments, bill payment services and prepaid card programs.

Through its digital offerings, Western Union provides customers with the ability to initiate transfers via its website and mobile app, as well as track transactions in real time.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Western Union

Fireblocks will provide the wallet, settlement, and financial operations infrastructure for Western Union's digital dollar, extending access and creating the foundation for a broader set of financial services to consumers in the Philippines and Bolivia, with global rollout planned through 2026.    

, /PRNewswire/ -- Western Union (NYSE: WU) today announced it has selected Fireblocks, the enterprise platform securing more than $14 trillion in digital asset transactions, to provide the core infrastructure behind USDPT, Western Union's U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. Fireblocks' platform, along with Dynamic's embedded wallet and TRES' financial platform, both recently acquired by Fireblocks, will power Western Union's ability to settle with agents in USDPT across Western Union's global network this year.

Western Union has built its business on giving people fast, reliable access to money across borders. USDPT carries that legacy onto stablecoin rails. Fireblocks provides the unified infrastructure that lets Western Union operate USDPT at scale and better serve customers who live in markets where access to U.S. dollars is limited, local currencies are volatile or formal banking is out of reach. With USDPT, they will be able to hold value in dollars, choose when and how to convert into local currency and use those balances for spending and transfers across Western Union's network.

"Stablecoins are the foundation of how we deliver the next generation of settlement and consumer services in an evolving digital ecosystem," said Malcolm Clarke, Global Head of Digital Assetsat Western Union. "It puts a programmable dollar into our vast ecosystem and provides Western Union a platform from where we can continue to deliver customer utility and value. Working with Fireblocks, Dynamic and TRES provide a key part of our infrastructure enabling us to operationalize safely and securely at scale from day one."

The Infrastructure Powering USDPT
Western Union is building USDPT treasury operations on the Fireblocks platform, which delivers the wallet, settlement and financial operations layer required to launch a regulated stablecoin program across a global consumer network.

Fireblocks is the treasury bridge giving Western Union end-to-end control over USDPT's flow from treasury operations to tellers and consumers. The platform provides custody, policy controls and the Payments Engine for issuance and movement, with the Fireblocks Network connecting Western Union to 2,400+ institutional counterparties across 100+ countries for liquidity and settlement. Dynamic delivers the non-custodial embedded wallets that hold USDPT for Western Union's agents. These secured wallets are the basis for the additional services WU could deploy over time.. TRES consolidates onchain data from across Western Union's USDPT stack, including wallet operations, treasury management and qualified custody, and translates it into the SWIFT MT940 and MT942 bank statement formats Western Union's treasury and finance systems already run on. The output flows directly into existing financial reporting cycles, letting USDPT operate inside Western Union's day-to-day reporting environment from launch. "Remittance and cross-border payments are where stablecoin infrastructure proves its value in production," said Ran Goldi, SVP Payments and Network at Fireblocks. "Western Union operates one of the most complex global money movement networks in the world. Operationalizing a digital dollar across that network requires wallet infrastructure, settlement connectivity, and financial operations that work with the systems Western Union already runs. That is what Fireblocks, Dynamic and TRES deliver together."

Global Rollout
USDPT operations on Fireblocks will roll out initially across two markets, the Philippines and Bolivia, with expansion across Western Union's global network through 2026. The rollout aligns with Western Union's broader strategy to modernize its settlement infrastructure and strengthen its competitive position as the global payments industry moves onchain.

"Every major shift in financial services requires infrastructure that can keep pace," said Michael Shaulov, CEO and Co-Founder of Fireblocks. "Western Union has operated the rails of global money movement for more than 170 years. Building USDPT on Fireblocks represents a generational modernization of that infrastructure, and we're proud to be the platform they've chosen to build it on."

About Fireblocks
Fireblocks is the world's most trusted digital asset infrastructure company, empowering organizations of all sizes to build, manage and grow their business on the blockchain. With the industry's most scalable and secure platform, we streamline stablecoin payments, settlement, custody, tokenization, trading, accounting operations, and compliance reporting, enabling everything from institutional finance to consumer-facing digital experiences across the largest ecosystem of banks, payment providers, stablecoin issuers, exchanges and custodians. Thousands of organizations, including Worldpay, BNY, Galaxy, and Revolut, trust Fireblocks to secure more than $14 trillion in digital asset transactions across 150+ blockchains. Learn more at fireblocks.com.

About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and over 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

SOURCE Fireblocks

For years, investors have categorized The Western Union Company NYSE: WU as a high-yield value trap, a legacy institution slowly ceding ground to more agile fintech disruptors like Remitly Global Inc. NASDAQ: RELY and Wise plc OTCMKTS: WPLCF. Western Union's Q1 2026 earnings report seemed to confirm this narrative.

An earnings miss, with earnings per share (EPS) coming in at 25 cents against a 40-cent consensus, was driven by the very friction its digital competitors were built to avoid: unexpected operational costs and significant foreign exchange losses in its core Americas retail segment. Yet, buried beneath the headline miss was the launch of a catalyst engineered to systematically dismantle these legacy headwinds.

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WU

Western Union

$7.58 +0.26 (+3.48%)

As of 03:47 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$7.24▼

$10.35Dividend Yield12.41%

P/E Ratio5.56

Price Target$8.82

Western Union's deployment of USDPT, a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin on the high-throughput Solana network, represents a foundational shift in its operational architecture.

By moving toward near-instant, 24/7 on-chain settlement, Western Union is engineering a direct bypass of the costly, slow correspondent banking system that has long squeezed its margins.

This technological pivot is not a superficial marketing initiative but a strategic overhaul aimed at improving core performance and profitability, a move that demands a fresh look from capital allocators focused on value and growth. For Western Union, this new strategic move isn't just about playing defense; it's about building a modern settlement layer to compete in the next decade.

The Blueprint for an Institutional-Grade Digital MoatSkepticism surrounding legacy companies entering the digital asset space is warranted, but Western Union's approach appears calculated and institutionally sound. Western Union has assembled a partnership stack featuring best-in-class digital asset infrastructure providers to de-risk execution and signal its seriousness to the market.

Building With Blockchain's A-TeamThe operational backbone of the USDPT initiative is powered by Fireblocks, a leader in enterprise-grade digital asset custody known for its multi-party computation (MPC) wallet architecture. Fireblocks will manage wallet infrastructure, custody, and settlement operations, leveraging its recently acquired assets, Dynamic for embedded wallets and TRES for financial operations, to support Western Union's global agent network. Regulated token issuance is handled by Anchorage Digital, ensuring a compliant and secure foundation for the stablecoin's rollout. This new strategy has seemingly advanced past a speculative experiment to an enterprise-level integration designed for security, regulatory adherence, and massive scale.

From Backend Savings to Frontend RevenueThe strategic logic extends beyond mere cost-cutting. The initial phase focuses on using USDPT to streamline internal treasury and settlement functions, directly addressing the forex vulnerabilities that battered first-quarter earnings. The more compelling, long-term opportunity lies in the consumer-facing pipeline. Western Union plans to launch Stable by Western Union, a retail spend product, across more than 40 countries by the end of 2026. This transforms the stablecoin from a backend efficiency tool into a comprehensive frontend ecosystem, opening new channels for customer acquisition and revenue generation in a fiercely competitive market.

A Deep Value Disconnect Meets a Wall of WorryThe market has yet to price in the potential for this digital transformation. Shares of Western Union currently trade at a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 6.7X and a forward P/E of 5.2X. This compressed valuation is paired with a hearty 10% dividend yield.

Overall MarketRank™83rd Percentile

Analyst RatingReduce

Upside/Downside17.0% Upside

Short Interest LevelBearish

Dividend StrengthStrong

News Sentiment0.84 Insider TradingSelling Shares

Proj. Earnings Growth9.66%

See Full Analysis

An analysis of the dividend's sustainability reveals a payout ratio of 69% against trailing earnings and a more comfortable 41% against cash flow, suggesting the distribution is well-covered in the near term. Further underpinning the stock is the continuation of a $1 billion share repurchase program that authorizes Western Union to buy back up to 27.5% of its outstanding shares.

This deep value proposition is contrasted by a significant wall of worry. The analyst consensus rating for the stock remains a Reduce, with the average price target of $8.82 sitting below its current trading level. This bearish sentiment is amplified by recent insider selling. Furthermore, elevated short interest, with about 13% of the public float sold short, indicates deep institutional skepticism.

This bearish positioning, however, creates the precise technical conditions for a potential short squeeze. A single positive data point on USDPT adoption or a surprise margin improvement in an upcoming earnings report could trigger a rapid wave of short covering, fueling a sharp upward move in the stock price.

The Digital Inflection Point for InvestorsThe investment thesis for Western Union now hinges on execution. The primary risk is not technological but operational: Western Union's ability to navigate a complex global rollout and realize tangible cost savings. Investors will need to monitor key performance indicators closely, including USDPT transaction volumes, as well as any specific data from management in the upcoming Q2 and Q3 earnings calls that quantify the impact on margins and forex losses.

Broader macro factors, such as the pending CLARITY Act in the U.S., could introduce regulatory uncertainty into the unit economics of stablecoin reserves, potentially influencing the venture's long-term profitability. As industry leaders have noted, a 175-year-old financial institution embracing regulated digital dollars on-chain serves as a powerful validator for the entire decentralized finance sector.

For investors, the situation presents an asymmetric risk/reward profile. Those with a higher risk tolerance may find the combination of a deep value multiple, a double-digit dividend yield, and a credible technology catalyst compelling. More conservative investors might prefer to wait for concrete data confirming that Western Union's digital pivot is translating from a strategic narrative into measurable financial improvement before committing capital.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Western Union Right Now?Before you consider Western Union, you'll want to hear this.

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Last year, Western Union announced plans to purchase money transfer service International Money Express (Intermex).

That $500 million deal is now facing pushback from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdami, who argues the acquisition would put financial pressure on the city’s immigrants.

“Every month, thousands of working class New Yorkers use Western Union to send money to loved ones,” Mamdani wrote Thursday (May 14) on the social media platform BlueSky.

“Now Western Union wants to buy its top competitor, Intermex, so it can jack up remittance fees and squeeze families even more. Families shouldn’t pay the price for corporate monopolies.”

His post was in reference to a Wednesday (May 13) New York Times (NYT) report on a letter Mamdani sent to the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), asking them to block the deal.

The letter, obtained by the NYT, said the acquisition “would further strain the already challenging economic circumstances facing New York City’s immigrant communities.”

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As the NYT notes, Western Union and Intermex operate retail locations that let recent immigrants send money back to their home country. These remittances have been increasing as immigrants try to transmit as much money back home as they can out of fears that they may soon be deported.

Western Union’s deal, announced last August, had been expected to close during the second quarter of this year, pending regulatory approval.

According to the report, Western Union issued a response to Mamdani’s letter, telling the NYDFS that the acquisition would “ensure that accessible and affordable” services would still be available for New York City immigrants by helping it compete against digital-only rivals.

The company added that it was “committed” to retail remittances, saying that they make up around 60% of Western Union’s revenue.

During an earnings call last month, company officials say they were looking to mergers and acquisitions as a driver of growth.

This came after a quarter in which revenues were flat, thanks in part to a decline in the company’s Americas business.

“As you know, remittances in the Americas have faced meaningful pressure that began early last year and continued through this winter, particularly across our key U.S. to Latin American corridors,” Western Union President and CEO Devin McGranahan said on an earnings call.

“We saw meaningful declines to markets like Mexico, Ecuador and Guatemala, driven by a combination of migration dynamics and U.S. immigration policy.”

The company recently closed two other acquisitions, those of Lana and Dash. Western Union also acquired Eurochange in April of last year.

-

The executive will lead the company's digital growth and evolution strategy in the region.

MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Union announces the appointment of Pedro Alegría as Vice President and General Manager for Mexico and Central America. From this position, he will lead the company's business and operation strategy in the region, with a focus on digital innovation, sustainable growth and a customer-centric value proposition.

Alegría has more than 20 years of experience in financial services, digital payments and innovation, with experience in both Mexico and the United States. Throughout his career he held leadership positions in companies such as American Express, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Banco Azteca and Banco Dondé, leading transformation, business growth and product development initiatives in highly competitive markets.

Prior to joining Western Union, he served as General Manager of Broxel USA, where he was in charge of the execution of the business strategy for the U.S. market. He led the development and launch of digital financial products in Mexico and the United States, including payment solutions, remittances, e-wallets, accounts, cards and cross-border platforms. His work has been recognized for its impact on financial inclusion, innovation in international transfers, and the creation of omnichannel proposals focused on underserved communities.

Alegría's appointment comes at a key moment for the company, which is advancing its Beyond strategy, aimed at evolving from a global remittance provider to a comprehensive financial services platform that accompanies people throughout their financial journey, combining digital solutions and a solid physical network. "I assume this new role with the commitment to strengthen the customer experience, through digital evolution, the expansion of our omnichannel; and the development of new products and services that accompany people's financial needs," said Pedro Alegría, Vice President and General Manager for Mexico and Central America.

Pedro has a degree in Business Administration, a Master's Degree in Innovation for Business Development from Tecnológico de Monterrey and a Diploma in Financial Technologies (Fintech, Crypto, Blockchain and AML) from UNAM. He has a strong background in leadership, digital payments, regulation, and technology transformation.

More News From The Western Union Company

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Key Takeaways Western Union posted 9% branded digital revenue growth and 21% higher digital transactions.WU expanded its wallet ecosystem through Dash and Lana acquisitions and new retail partnerships.Western Union faces retail weakness, high debt levels and ROIC below the industry average. The Western Union Company (WU - Free Report) is benefiting from its diversified product base and expanding digital ecosystem, the strong performance of the Consumer Services and the Branded Digital businesses and strategic acquisitions and partnerships. Its forward P/E of 4.52X is significantly lower than the industry average of 16.32X. The company has a Value Score of A.

Western Union — with a market capitalization of $2.6 billion — is a global financial service provider that specializes in fast, secure cross-border money transfers, payments and digital financial services across 200+ countries and territories. In the year-to-date period, shares of WU have fallen 11.4% compared with the industry’s 15.5% decline.

Courtesy of solid prospects, WU currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Let’s delve deeper.

Where Do Estimates for WU Stand?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Western Union’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.76 per share, which has remained stable over the past seven days. The consensus mark for revenues is pinned at $4.3 billion for 2026, implying a 5.2% year-over-year rise. WU beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice.

WU’s Growth DriversWestern Union’s growth strategy is increasingly centered on digital expansion and higher-value consumer services. In the first quarter of 2026, the company reported 9% year-over-year growth in branded digital revenues alongside a 21% rise in digital transactions, highlighting continued momentum in online remittances and account-to-account transfers. Consumer Services revenues also climbed 24%, supported by the expansion of the Travel Money business and stronger bill payment activity.

The company is accelerating its expansion strategy through acquisitions, retail partnerships and digital wallet development. The pending Intermex acquisition is expected to strengthen WU’s retail network across the Americas, while acquisitions such as Dash in Singapore and Lana in Mexico are enhancing its wallet ecosystem and cross-border payment capabilities. The company is integrating these platforms into its Beyond infrastructure to support faster wallet-to-wallet transfers, lower payout costs and broader international reach. Partnerships with Kroger, Deutsche Post and Canada Post are also expanding WU’s retail footprint and improving customer access across key markets.

Western Union is focusing on technology modernization and digital asset innovation. The rollout of USDPT, the Digital Asset Network and Stable Cards is expected to improve settlement efficiency, enabling real-time cross-border transactions and offering customers new payout options. It is also investing in cloud migration, AI-driven automation and platform modernization to reduce operating costs and improve productivity.

Western Union remains committed to enhancing shareholder value through dividends and share buybacks. Its current dividend yield is 11.4%, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.8%. In the first quarter of 2026, the company rewarded its shareholders with share buybacks worth $45 million and paid dividends of $74 million.

WU’s Key RisksThere are some factors that investors should keep a careful eye on.

Western Union continues to face pressure in its Americas retail business, where weaker transaction trends and lower fixed cost coverage are weighing on profitability. The Consumer Money Transfer segment revenues slipped 3% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.

WU’s levered balance sheet is concerning. Its total debt-to-total capital of 74.2% at the first-quarter end is significantly higher than the industry’s figure of 46.2%. Debt outstanding as of March 31, 2026, was $2.6 billion, above its cash balance of $909.2 million. Also, its return on invested capital (ROIC) of 8.7% is much lower than the industry average of 23.3%.

Key PicksSome top-ranked stocks in the business services space are Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) , Dave Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) and Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (PRTH - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sezzle’s current-year earnings is pinned at $5.09 per share and has witnessed four upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Sezzle beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 17.4%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $592.6 million, implying 31.6% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dave’s current-year earnings is pinned at $15.46 per share and has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Dave beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 45.8%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $713.7 million, implying 28.8% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Priority Technology’s current-year earnings is pinned at $1.24 per share and has witnessed one upward revision in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Priority Technology beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 4.4%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $1 billion, implying 8.5% year-over-year growth.

Western Union (WU - Free Report) closed at $7.97 in the latest trading session, marking a -2.21% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.13% gain on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.45%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.03%.

Shares of the money transfer company have depreciated by 11.22% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Business Services sector's gain of 0.89%, and the S&P 500's gain of 5.25%.

The upcoming earnings release of Western Union will be of great interest to investors. In that report, analysts expect Western Union to post earnings of $0.43 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 2.38%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $1.04 billion, indicating a 1.51% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $1.76 per share and a revenue of $4.26 billion, indicating changes of +0.57% and +5.21%, respectively, from the former year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Western Union. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.09% lower. Right now, Western Union possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Looking at valuation, Western Union is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 4.64. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 9.9, so one might conclude that Western Union is trading at a discount comparatively.

We can additionally observe that WU currently boasts a PEG ratio of 1.04. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The average PEG ratio for the Financial Transaction Services industry stood at 0.81 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 62, placing it within the top 26% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.

Key Takeaways Western Union partnered with Bybit, the first major crypto exchange in its USDPT network.Eligible users in selected Latin American markets can buy and redeem USDPT via Bybit.WU sees stablecoins as part of a digital-first strategy targeting about $5B revenues by 2028. The Western Union Company (WU - Free Report) has taken a significant step in its digital asset strategy through a partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, enabling users to access USDPT, a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on the Solana blockchain. The integration makes Bybit the first major crypto exchange to join WU’s USDPT network, creating a bridge between traditional money movement services and blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

The collaboration is designed to simplify the conversion of local currencies into USDPT and vice versa, particularly in selected Latin American markets. By combining Bybit’s large crypto user base and fiat liquidity with Western Union’s extensive payout network and compliance capabilities, the companies aim to make cross-border value transfers faster, more accessible and available around the clock.

USDPT is fully backed by reserves and redeemable 1:1 with U.S. dollars. Through the new integration, eligible users in selected Latin American markets can purchase USDPT using supported local currencies on Bybit and convert their holdings back into fiat whenever needed. This creates a new on-ramp and off-ramp channel between traditional financial systems and blockchain networks, allowing funds to move more efficiently while reducing settlement delays and operational friction.

The initiative reflects WU’s broader effort to modernize its infrastructure and participate in the growing stablecoin economy. As financial institutions increasingly explore blockchain-based settlement networks, the company is leveraging its trusted global brand and regulatory expertise to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving payments landscape.

Looking ahead, stablecoins remain a small portion of global transfer volumes today, but adoption is accelerating due to lower transaction costs and faster settlement times. If Western Union successfully scales USDPT across additional corridors and partners, it could strengthen its competitive position against fintech rivals while opening new long-term revenue opportunities tied to blockchain-enabled payments. The initiative also aligns with the company's broader digital-first strategy and its goal of growing revenues by roughly 20% to about $5 billion by 2028, supported by expansion across products, geographies and channels.

WU’s Price PerformanceOver the past year, WU shares have declined 18.5% compared with the industry’s fall of 27.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WU’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksWU currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some top-ranked stocks in the business services space are Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) , Dave Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) and Green Dot Corporation (GDOT - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sezzle’s current-year earnings is pinned at $5.09 per share and has witnessed four upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Sezzle beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 17.4%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $592.6 million, implying 31.6% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dave’s current-year earnings is pinned at $16.17 per share and has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Dave beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 45.8%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $713.7 million, implying 28.8% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Green Dot’s current-year earnings is pinned at $1.68 per share and has witnessed one upward revision in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Green Dot beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $2.2 billion, implying 8.3% year-over-year growth.

Western Union Reports Inducement Grants Under New York Stock Exchange Listing Rule 303A.08 The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) today announced that it issued inducement awards to two new non-executive employees under the New York Stock Exchange’s Listing Rule 303A.08.

The awards were granted as restricted stock units (RSUs) with respect to an aggregate of 267,380 shares of the Company’s common stock and were granted as of June 5, 2026. These awards were granted in connection with the employment of certain key employees who will be supporting the execution of the Company’s Beyond strategy, including the Senior Vice President, Global Digital Product and North America Digital Go To Market and the Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer. The RSUs are scheduled to vest on a three-year ratable vesting schedule, generally subject to the employee’s continued employment through each vesting date.

The awards were approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, and were granted under The Western Union Company 2026 Inducement Plan as employment inducement awards pursuant to New York Stock Exchange Listing Rule 303A.08.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and nearly 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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