Core Insights - Western Union has selected Solana to host its upcoming stablecoin and digital money transfer network, which is expected to significantly modernize its operations and potentially generate tens of billions in new annual volume [1][3]. Company Strategy - The company plans to launch a dollar-backed stablecoin, the U.S. Dollar Payment Token (USDPT), on Solana's blockchain in the first half of 2026, alongside a Digital Asset Network to integrate digital wallets with fiat currency [3]. - Solana's architecture is optimized for fast and cost-effective processing of Western Union's large international remittance flows, allowing the company to reduce working capital and foreign exchange costs, cut overhead, and enhance service speed [3]. Market Positioning - The choice of Solana over XRP highlights a strategic focus on consumer remittances rather than institutional financial services, as Western Union primarily targets consumers needing international money transfers [6][4]. - Although XRP was designed for cross-border capital flows and offers low fees and quick transaction times, it was not selected due to its marketing focus on institutional investors rather than the consumer demographic that Western Union serves [5][6].

Summary of Western Union's 2025 Investor Day Company Overview - **Company**: Western Union - **Event**: 2025 Investor Day - **Duration**: Presentation included insights from various members of the management team regarding the company's strategy and future direction [1][2] Key Industry Insights - **Industry**: Money transfer and financial services - **Focus**: Transitioning from traditional remittance services to a broader digital-first financial services model [6][12] Core Points and Arguments 1. **Strategic Vision**: The company is undergoing a transformation termed "Beyond," which aims to expand its offerings beyond cash-to-cash remittances to a digital-first approach [6][7][10] 2. **Market Competitiveness**: Western Union claims to be market competitive in over 70% of its global corridors, a significant improvement from three years ago when it struggled with pricing [8][9] 3. **Digital Transformation**: The company has invested heavily in digital platforms, aiming to enhance customer experience and streamline operations, resulting in a 17% year-over-year improvement in new customer approval rates in North America [29][30] 4. **Retail Strategy**: The retail network remains a strategic asset, with over 360,000 locations globally, driving significant brand visibility and customer acquisition [60][61] 5. **Financial Performance**: The company has maintained stable adjusted earnings per share while repositioning itself competitively, with a focus on driving top-line revenue growth [9][20] 6. **Acquisition of Intermex**: This acquisition is expected to enhance Western Union's retail transformation and strengthen its position in the US-Latin America corridor [23][38] Additional Important Insights - **Customer-Centric Approach**: The company emphasizes a culture focused on customer needs, aiming to create products and experiences that delight customers [10][11] - **Operational Efficiency**: Significant improvements in operational efficiency have been achieved, including a 40% reduction in customer calls and a 50% reduction in agent service calls since 2022 [20][21] - **Capital Return**: Western Union has returned approximately $1 billion in dividends and repurchased nearly $900 million in stock over the past three years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder value [22] - **Future Growth**: The company aims to grow its digital business by $500 million over the next three years, focusing on under-penetrated corridors and high-growth customer segments [39][42] Conclusion Western Union is positioning itself as a leader in the evolving financial services landscape by leveraging its extensive retail network, enhancing its digital capabilities, and focusing on customer satisfaction. The strategic initiatives discussed during the Investor Day highlight the company's commitment to growth and innovation in the money transfer industry.

Core Insights - Western Union's shares increased by 8.9% following the announcement of its 'Beyond' strategy and a positive medium-term financial outlook during its Investor Day event [1][2] - The company anticipates a 20% revenue increase to approximately $5 billion and a 30% growth in adjusted earnings per share by 2028, focusing on a digital-first approach [2] Financial Projections - Revenue is projected to grow by 20% to around $5 billion by 2028 [2] - Adjusted earnings per share are expected to increase by 30% by 2028 [2] - The Consumer Services division is expected to maintain double-digit revenue growth under the new strategy [2] Strategic Initiatives - The 'Beyond' strategy aims to expand Western Union's financial services network globally, moving beyond traditional consumer money transfers [2] - The company plans to enhance its Digital Asset Network and implement a USDPT stablecoin strategy [2] - Recent initiatives include a pilot for a stablecoin-based settlement system to modernize money transfers and improve efficiency [5] Market Performance - Western Union's shares have shown volatility, with 11 moves greater than 5% in the past year, indicating that the market views the recent news as significant but not fundamentally altering its perception of the company [4] - The stock is down 10.7% year-to-date and is trading 19.7% below its 52-week high of $11.62 [6]

November 6, 2025 ©2025 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Investor Day 2025 I Western Union Welcome Tom Hadley Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Development 2 ©2025 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Investor Day 2025 I Western Union Agenda Strategic Update Devin McGranahan 02 Digital First Bob Rupczynski 03 Retail Enabled Giovanni Angelini & Massimiliano Alvisini 01 04 Beyond Remittances Sofia Graniello 05 Powered By Next Generation Payments Ben Hawksworth 06 ...

Group 1 - The Western Union Company is hosting an Investor Day event in New York City at 1:00 p.m. EST [1] - The event will feature presentations from the executive management team and an overview of the Company's strategic outlook and growth plans [1] - The Company is providing its medium-term outlook during the event [1] Group 2 - The vision of the Company is to make financial services accessible to people everywhere [1]

Core Insights - Western Union has applied for a trademark for "WUUSD" while planning to issue a USD-pegged stablecoin on the Solana blockchain in early 2026, despite previously announcing the coin would be called USDPT [1][2] - The WUUSD trademark application has been accepted by the USPTO but is pending examination for approval, and it may be used for stablecoin payment processing and foreign currency exchange [2] - Western Union aims to create a "digital asset network" to provide real-world utility for digital assets, though details on potential other tokens or projects remain unclear [3] Industry Context - The stablecoin market features multiple issuers like Tether and Circle, which have various stablecoins pegged to different assets, indicating a trend towards diverse stablecoin offerings [4] - Rajiv Sawhney from Wave Digital Assets suggests that WUUSD may serve as a more recognizable public-facing ticker, while USDPT could be the regulatory name, highlighting branding considerations in the stablecoin space [4] - A prediction market indicates that over 50% of respondents believe the stablecoin market value could reach $360 billion before February, reflecting optimism in the sector's growth potential [4]

Core Insights - Two stocks in the financial sector are signaling potential warnings for momentum-focused investors as of October 30, 2025 [1] Company Summaries - **Western Union Co (NYSE: WU)**: The company is set to launch a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, USDPT, on the Solana blockchain in the first half of 2026, aiming to enhance cross-border transfers for its 100 million global customers. The stock has increased by approximately 18% over the past five days, with a current RSI value of 76.4 and a closing price of $9.54 [7] - **Bank of NT Butterfield & Son Ltd (NYSE: NTB)**: The bank reported strong quarterly results, highlighting improved efficiency and increased banking and foreign exchange fees. The stock rose by about 5% over the past five days, with an RSI value of 70.6 and a closing price of $44.34 [7]

Core Viewpoint - Western Union's introduction of the U.S. Dollar Payment Token (USDPT) on Solana and the Digital Asset Network highlights the potential of stablecoins as an opportunity for remittance firms rather than a threat [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - Western Union shares increased by 6.5% following the announcement of USDPT and the Digital Asset Network [1]. - The Digital Asset Network will provide cash-out access at 380,000 Western Union agents, indicating a strategy to monetize stablecoin flows [2]. Group 2: Market Analysis - Analysts from William Blair anticipate that stablecoin remittances could enhance settlement speed, reduce pre-funding requirements, and improve capital efficiency, particularly in markets susceptible to inflation [2]. - Despite advancements in digital services, Western Union faces sluggish core money transfer growth and potential challenges from a remittance tax set to take effect in 2026 [3]. Group 3: Financial Metrics - Western Union's current dividend yield stands at 10%, with a low price-to-earnings ratio of 5.3x for 2026, which is expected to support the stock price [3]. - Following the market opening, WU shares rose by 2% to $9.68 [3].

Core Insights - Traditional payment giants in the U.S. are embracing stablecoin settlement systems, with Western Union announcing the launch of USDPT based on the Solana blockchain in the first half of 2026, while Visa expands support for stablecoins across four blockchains [1][2][3] Group 1: Western Union's Stablecoin Initiative - Western Union's upcoming stablecoin settlement system will consist of the USDPT and a digital asset network, built on the Solana blockchain [2] - CEO Devin McGranahan noted that the passage of the GENIUS Act has shifted the company's cautious stance on cryptocurrencies due to previous concerns over market volatility and regulatory uncertainty [2] - The USDPT is expected to be accessible through partner exchanges, similar to the listing of PayPal's USD stablecoin on Binance [2] Group 2: Visa's Expansion in Stablecoin Services - Visa is significantly expanding its stablecoin support, planning to add four new stablecoins across four different blockchains, although specific details were not disclosed [3] - The company has facilitated $140 billion in cryptocurrency and stablecoin flows since 2020, with monthly transaction volumes now exceeding an annualized scale of $25 billion [3] - Visa aims to enhance its services for banks and traditional financial institutions, promoting cross-border transactions using stablecoins [3] Group 3: Broader Industry Trends - Other U.S. payment platforms are also advancing stablecoin strategies, with Zelle's parent company announcing a stablecoin launch to accelerate cross-border payments [4] - MoneyGram is integrating its crypto application in Colombia to provide local users with USDC wallets [4] - Traditional payment platforms increasingly view blockchain technology as a solution for cross-border remittances, offering faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions [4] Group 4: Additional Developments - Walmart's fintech company OnePay plans to add Bitcoin and Ethereum trading features through a partnership with Zerohash, enhancing its platform's capabilities [5] - OnePay has become a leading free finance app in the Apple App Store, competing with major fintech players like PayPal and Venmo [5]

Partnerships & Technology - Western Union, the world's largest money transfer business, is building exclusively on Solana [1]