What Makes Shift4 Payments (FOUR) an Investment Bet?

Group 1 - Ave Maria Growth Fund reported a return of 0.84% in Q3 2025, significantly lower than the S&P 500 Index's return of 8.12% and the S&P 500® Equal Weight Index's gain of 4.84% [1] - The fund highlighted Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE:FOUR) as a key stock, which has experienced a one-month return of -4.45% and a 52-week loss of 38.26% [2] - Shift4 Payments, Inc. focuses on the hospitality industry, providing payment processing services while offering essential software for free, and has a market capitalization of $5.827 billion as of January 6, 2026 [3] Group 2 - Shift4 Payments, Inc. was held by 45 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, a decrease from 55 in the previous quarter, indicating a decline in popularity among hedge funds [4] - Despite the potential of Shift4 Payments, certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential and less downside risk, suggesting a shift in investment focus [4] - The company has a history of acquiring software companies and transitioning to a bundling model, which has historically provided exceptional returns to shareholders [3]