Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Wex (WEX) and Visa (V) indicates that WEX currently offers better value for investors based on various financial metrics and earnings outlook [1][3]. Valuation Metrics - WEX has a forward P/E ratio of 10.93, significantly lower than Visa's forward P/E of 30.53, suggesting WEX is more attractively priced [5]. - The PEG ratio for WEX is 1.38, while Visa's PEG ratio stands at 2.32, indicating WEX has a better balance between price and expected earnings growth [5]. - WEX's P/B ratio is 5.98 compared to Visa's 16.92, further highlighting WEX's relative undervaluation [6]. Earnings Outlook - WEX holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting a positive earnings estimate revision trend, while Visa has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a less favorable outlook [3][6]. - The solid earnings outlook for WEX contributes to its superior valuation metrics compared to Visa [6].

Core Viewpoint - WEX reported strong Q2 2025 earnings, with both earnings and revenues exceeding estimates, despite some declines in specific segments [2][4][6]. Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for Q2 2025 were $3.95, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.1% and showing a year-over-year increase of 1.02% [2]. - Revenues for the quarter totaled $659.6 million, beating the consensus estimate by 0.9%, but reflecting a decline of 2.06% compared to the previous year [2]. Segmental Performance - The Mobility segment's revenues decreased by 3.7% year-over-year to $346.2 million, falling short of the estimate of $354.4 million [3]. - The Corporate Payments segment reported revenues of $118.3 million, down 34.2% from Q2 2024, missing the estimate of $119 million [3]. - The Benefits segment saw a significant increase in revenues, up 45.5% year-over-year to $195.1 million, exceeding the estimate of $185.5 million [3]. Operating Results - Adjusted operating income declined by 11.3% to $243 million compared to the previous year, but exceeded the estimate of $223.2 million [4]. - The adjusted operating income margin was 36.8%, surpassing the estimate of 33.9%, although it declined by 390 basis points year-over-year [4]. Balance Sheet & Cash Flow - WEX ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $772.6 million, an increase from $595.8 million at the end of December 2024 [5]. - Long-term debt stood at $3.9 billion, significantly higher than $595.8 million at the end of December 2024 [5]. - The company utilized $264.6 million in cash from operating activities during the quarter, with adjusted free cash flow of $194.3 million and capital expenditures totaling $34.6 million [5]. Future Outlook - For Q3 2025, WEX expects revenues between $669 million and $689 million, with adjusted net income projected between $4.30 and $4.50 per share [6]. - For the full year 2025, revenues are anticipated to be between $2.61 billion and $2.65 billion, with adjusted net income expected between $15.37 and $15.77 per share [6]. Estimate Trends - Following the earnings release, there has been an upward trend in estimates, with the consensus estimate shifting by 5.56% [7]. Investment Scores - WEX holds an average Growth Score of C and a similar score for momentum, but has an A grade for value, placing it in the top 20% for this investment strategy [9]. - The overall aggregate VGM Score for WEX is B, indicating a favorable investment outlook [9]. General Outlook - The upward trend in estimates and the magnitude of revisions suggest a promising outlook for WEX, which currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [10].

Core Insights - WEX Inc. has reached a significant support level and is considered a strong stock pick from a technical perspective due to a recent "golden cross" event [1] - The "golden cross" is a bullish technical chart pattern indicating a potential breakout, formed when a stock's short-term moving average surpasses its long-term moving average [2] - WEX has shown a 6.5% increase over the past four weeks, and it holds a 1 (Strong Buy) rating on the Zacks Rank, supported by a positive earnings outlook with 8 upward revisions in estimates [4] Technical Analysis - A golden cross consists of three stages: a downtrend that bottoms out, a crossover of the shorter moving average above the longer one, and continued upward momentum [3] - This pattern is contrasted with a "death cross," which indicates potential bearish momentum [3] Earnings Outlook - WEX's positive earnings outlook for the current quarter is bolstered by multiple upward revisions in estimates, with no downward revisions in the past 60 days [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WEX has also increased, reinforcing the bullish sentiment around the stock [4] Investment Consideration - Given the technical indicators and positive earnings revisions, WEX is recommended for investors' watchlists [6]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, access to the Zacks 1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens [1] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics [2] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future outlook by analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score identifies stocks with upward or downward trends in price or earnings outlook, utilizing one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors seeking attractive value, growth forecasts, and promising momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks yielding an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7] - There are over 800 top-rated stocks available, making it essential for investors to utilize Style Scores to narrow down their choices [8] - For optimal returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B, while 3 (Hold) ranked stocks should also have A or B Scores for maximum upside potential [9] Company Spotlight: WEX Inc. - WEX Inc., based in South Portland, ME, is a prominent provider of payment processing and business solutions across various sectors, including fleet, travel, and healthcare [11] - WEX holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of B, with a Momentum Style Score of B, reflecting a 12% increase in shares over the past four weeks [11] - In the last 60 days, eight analysts have raised their earnings estimates for WEX for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.64 to $15.63 per share, and an average earnings surprise of +2.4% [12]

Group 1: Company Overview - WEX is currently rated with a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and an A for Value, indicating strong potential for value investors [4][3] - The stock has a P/E ratio of 10.59, significantly lower than the industry average P/E of 21.57, suggesting it may be undervalued [4] - Over the past 52 weeks, WEX's Forward P/E has fluctuated between 7.27 and 12.19, with a median of 10.13 [4] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - WEX has a PEG ratio of 1.34, which is lower than the industry average PEG of 1.79, indicating a favorable valuation considering its expected EPS growth [5] - The company’s P/B ratio stands at 6.17, compared to the industry average P/B of 8.55, further supporting its undervaluation [6] - WEX's P/S ratio is 2.31, which is slightly below the industry average P/S of 2.7, suggesting reasonable sales performance relative to its peers [7] - The P/CF ratio for WEX is 9.54, significantly lower than the industry average P/CF of 17.73, indicating strong cash flow relative to its market value [8] Group 3: Investment Outlook - The combination of these metrics suggests that WEX is likely undervalued, making it an attractive option for value investors [9] - The strength of WEX's earnings outlook positions it as one of the strongest value stocks in the market [9]

Core Viewpoint - Wex has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - Changes in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [3]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares, leading to significant stock price movements based on their buying or selling activities [3]. Wex's Earnings Outlook - The rising earnings estimates for Wex suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [4]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Wex has increased by 3.7% over the past three months, with expected earnings of $15.57 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, indicating no year-over-year change [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6]. - The upgrade of Wex to a Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].

Group 1 - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores provide a unique rating system for stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, helping investors identify securities with high potential for market outperformance [2][3] Group 2 - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using financial ratios such as P/E and Price/Sales, appealing to value investors [3] - The Growth Score focuses on a company's future prospects by analyzing projected earnings and sales, targeting growth investors [4] - The Momentum Score leverages price trends and earnings estimate changes to assist momentum traders in timing their investments [5] Group 3 - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, offering a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing strategies [6] - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock-rating model, uses earnings estimate revisions to simplify portfolio building, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988 [7][9] Group 4 - WEX Inc., a leading provider of payment processing solutions, holds a 2 (Buy) Zacks Rank and a VGM Score of B, indicating strong investment potential [11] - WEX's Value Style Score is A, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 10.95, making it attractive to value investors [11] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by analysts have increased WEX's consensus estimate to $15.57 per share, with an average earnings surprise of +2.4% [12]

Core Viewpoint - Wex (WEX) shares have recently experienced a decline of 5.3% over the past week, but the formation of a hammer chart pattern suggests potential support and a possible trend reversal in the future [1][2]. Technical Analysis - The hammer chart pattern indicates a potential bottoming out, with selling pressure likely subsiding, which supports a bullish outlook for the stock [2][5]. - A hammer pattern typically forms during a downtrend, where the stock opens lower, makes a new low, but then closes near or above the opening price, indicating buying interest [4][5]. - The effectiveness of the hammer pattern is enhanced when used alongside other bullish indicators, as its strength is dependent on its placement on the chart [6]. Fundamental Analysis - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for WEX are a positive fundamental indicator, as trends in earnings estimate revisions correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [7]. - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for WEX has increased by 3.4%, indicating that analysts expect better earnings than previously predicted [8]. - WEX holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks, which typically outperform the market [9][10].

Core Insights - WEX Inc. reported strong second-quarter 2025 results, with both earnings and revenues exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate, leading to a 6.5% increase in share price since the earnings release on July 23 [1][2] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share were $3.95, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.1% and showing a year-over-year increase of 1.02% [2][6] - Revenues totaled $659.6 million, beating the consensus estimate by 0.9% but reflecting a decline of 2.06% year-over-year [2][6] Segment Performance - The Mobility segment's revenues decreased by 3.7% year-over-year to $346.2 million, missing the estimate of $354.4 million [4] - The Corporate Payments segment's revenues fell 34.2% year-over-year to $118.3 million, also missing the estimate of $119 million [4] - The Benefits segment's revenues increased by 45.5% year-over-year to $195.1 million, exceeding the estimate of $185.5 million [4] Operating Results - Adjusted operating income declined by 11.3% to $243 million from the year-ago quarter but exceeded the estimate of $223.2 million [5] - The adjusted operating income margin was 36.8%, surpassing the estimate of 33.9% but down 390 basis points year-over-year [5] Guidance - For Q3 2025, revenues are expected to be between $669 million and $689 million, with adjusted net income projected between $4.30 and $4.50 per share [8] - For the full year 2025, revenues are anticipated to be between $2.61 billion and $2.65 billion, with adjusted net income expected between $15.37 and $15.77 per share [9] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - WEX ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $772.6 million, up from $595.8 million at the end of December 2024 [7] - Long-term debt stood at $3.9 billion, significantly higher than $595.8 million at the end of December 2024 [7] - The company reported a cash outflow of $264.6 million from operating activities, with adjusted free cash flow of $194.3 million [7]

Zacks has developed the innovative Style Scores system to highlight stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will be interested in stocks with great grades in the "Value" category. When paired with a high Zacks Rank, "A" grades in the Value category are among the strongest value stocks on the market today. While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strateg ...