Why Western Union Still Deserves a Place in Your Portfolio

Core Insights - The Western Union Company (WU) is positioned for growth due to declining expenses, strong performance in Consumer Services and Branded Digital businesses, and investments to enhance digital capabilities [1][10] - The company has a market capitalization of $2.9 billion and is currently rated Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating solid investment prospects [2] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WU's current-year earnings is $1.73 per share, with two upward revisions in the past 60 days [3] - Revenue estimates for 2025 and 2026 are approximately $4.09 billion and $4.11 billion, respectively, supported by growth in high-demand remittance corridors like Latin America [5] - WU's shares have decreased by 12.5% over the past year, compared to an 8.4% decline in the industry [3] Valuation Metrics - WU's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 5.24X, significantly lower than its five-year median of 7.54X and the industry average of 21.16X, indicating the stock is more affordable [4] - The company has a Value Score of A, suggesting it is undervalued relative to its peers [4] Operational Efficiency - WU has successfully reduced total expenses by 9% in 2022, with further reductions of 1.4% in 2023, 1.6% in 2024, and 5% in the first nine months of 2025 [6] - The adjusted operating margin is expected to be between 19% and 21% for 2025, benefiting from ongoing cost-reduction strategies [6][10] Shareholder Returns - WU offers an attractive dividend yield of 10.05%, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.68% [7] - In 2024, WU returned $496 million to shareholders, including $318 million in dividends and $177 million in share repurchases [7] - As of September 30, 2025, WU had $800.3 million authorized for further share repurchases [7] Strategic Growth Initiatives - The acquisition of International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI) for $500 million is expected to be a major growth driver, enhancing WU's presence in markets with large migrant populations and increasing digital adoption [5] - The transaction is anticipated to close by mid-2026, aligning with WU's expansion plans [5]