William Blair Reduces Earnings Estimates for Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at William Blair cut their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for Western Union in a report released on Wednesday, February 5th. William Blair analyst C. Kennedy now expects that the credit services provider will post earnings of $0.43 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.47. The consensus estimate for Western Union's current full-year earnings is $1.80 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Western Union's Q3 2025 earnings at $0.45 EPS and Q4 2025 earnings at $0.47 EPS.

Western Union (NYSE:WU - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The credit services provider reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) 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%.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. UBS Group lowered their target price on Western Union from $13.50 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 9th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Western Union in a research report on Thursday. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of Western Union from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Western Union from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have given a hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $12.11.

Western Union Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:WU traded down $0.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $10.45. The stock had a trading volume of 4,715,416 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,690,820. 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 $3.53 billion, a PE ratio of 3.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.24.

Western Union announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Friday, December 13th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the credit services provider to purchase up to 27.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Western Union Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a $0.235 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.00%. Western Union's dividend payout ratio is presently 34.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Union

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WU. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of Western Union during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Western Union during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Independence Bank of Kentucky bought a new position in shares of Western Union in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in shares of Western Union by 89.3% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,226 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 1,522 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its position in shares of Western Union by 1,734.7% during the fourth quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 4,862 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 4,597 shares in 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.