Euronet Worldwide at New 52-Week Low: Value Play Emerging?

Company Overview - Euronet Worldwide (EEFT) is a payments provider based in Kansas City, which has hit its 16th new 52-week low in the past 12 months, down over 11% year-over-year, trailing the S&P 500 by nearly 26 percentage points [2][4] - The stock has only traded at this low level on five occasions over the past eight years [2] Financial Performance - Euronet is expected to report its third-quarter results next Wednesday, with an average analyst earnings per share estimate of $3.35, which is 20% higher than the previous year [3] - The projected earnings per share for 2025 is $8.86, reflecting a 16% increase from 2024 [3] - The forward P/E ratio for EEFT stock is 9.4x, indicating it may be a value play [3] Industry Context - Euronet's underperformance is attributed to the payments industry, where its peer group has an average one-year return of -21.5%, which is nearly double Euronet's performance of -11.5% [4] - Euronet's stock performance ranks 140th out of 197 sub-industries over the past six months, highlighting its current struggles [5] Acquisition Activity - On July 30, Euronet announced the acquisition of CoreCard (CCRD) for $248 million, financed through EEFT stock, which is expected to enhance its U.S. presence and accelerate digital transformation [6] - The acquisition involves a variable exchange ratio for CoreCard shareholders, calculated based on the volume-weighted average price of Euronet's stock over the 15 trading days prior to the deal's closure [7]