Q1 EPS Estimates for Western Union Lowered by Zacks Research

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for Western Union in a report released on Monday, February 17th. Zacks Research analyst K. Dey now expects that the credit services provider will earn $0.43 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.45. The consensus estimate for Western Union's current full-year earnings is $1.79 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Western Union's Q2 2025 earnings at $0.44 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.45 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.45 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.45 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.46 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.47 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.51 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.89 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $1.98 EPS.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on WU. Susquehanna decreased their target price on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Western Union from $13.50 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Barclays decreased their target price on Western Union from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Western Union in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $12.11.

Western Union Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of WU stock traded down $0.11 on Wednesday, hitting $10.63. The company had a trading volume of 6,059,547 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,702,031. The stock's 50-day moving average is $10.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.14. Western Union has a twelve month low of $10.04 and a twelve month high of $14.19. The firm has a market cap of $3.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.20.

Western Union (NYSE:WU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.02). Western Union had a net margin of 22.19% and a return on equity of 96.90%.

Western Union declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Friday, December 13th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the credit services provider to buy up to 27.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Western Union Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.235 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.84%. Western Union's dividend payout ratio is 34.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Union

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in Western Union in the third quarter worth $25,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Western Union in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Independence Bank of Kentucky purchased a new position in Western Union in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC boosted its position in Western Union by 1,487.6% in the fourth quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 3,080 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 2,886 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its position in Western Union by 662.7% in the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 3,722 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 3,234 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.81% of the company's stock.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices.