Core Insights - The article discusses the investment potential in legacy businesses within the remittance industry, particularly focusing on companies like Western Union (WU) and Euronet (EEFT) that are perceived to be in secular decline but may offer high yield and cash-generative opportunities [1] Group 1: Investment Focus - The emphasis is on identifying high-quality, shareholder-oriented companies that are undervalued due to short-term market factors or irrational investor behavior [1] - There is a particular interest in sectors such as remittances, ATMs, and tobacco, where cash-generative stocks are often overlooked despite their potential for revenue and earnings growth [1] Group 2: Geographic Scope - While the primary focus is on U.S. stocks, the analysis also includes attractive investment opportunities in the UK and globally [1]

Group 1 - Northland lowered the price target on Euronet (EEFT) to $90 from $100 [1] - The firm maintains an Outperform rating on Euronet shares [1] - Adjustments to estimates were made following a "softer" Q4 report [1]

Core Insights - Euronet Worldwide reported a mixed performance in Q4, with consolidated revenue increasing by 1% year-over-year on a constant-currency basis, while adjusted operating income declined by 6% and adjusted EBITDA remained consistent with the prior year [1][3] - Despite challenges, the company achieved double-digit earnings-per-share growth for the year and anticipates continued growth of 10% to 15% in adjusted EPS for 2026, reflecting confidence in its operational trajectory and growth initiatives [2][6] Financial Performance - For the full year, Euronet reported revenue of $4.2 billion, adjusted operating income of $550 million, adjusted EBITDA of $743 million, and adjusted EPS of $9.61, with operating margins expanding by approximately 30 basis points compared to the previous year [23][24] - The company ended the quarter with approximately $1 billion in unrestricted cash and $2 billion in debt, having repurchased $388 million in shares during 2025 [24][25] Segment Performance - The EFT segment showed strength with revenue rising by approximately 8% and adjusted EBITDA increasing by about 13%, while both epay and Money Transfer segments experienced modest declines [5][10] - Money Transfer faced pressures due to macroeconomic conditions and immigration-related dynamics, particularly affecting remittance flows to Mexico, although the average amount sent increased by 7% to 8% year-over-year [8][9] Strategic Initiatives - Euronet is focusing on rapid merchant-acquiring growth, with adjusted EBITDA in this area increasing by 32% in 2025, and the acquisition of Credia is expected to add around 20,000 merchants [4][14] - A business review initiated with an external consulting partner is expected to yield about $40 million in annual run-rate benefits, with a portion aimed at expanding Money Transfer operating margins by 50 to 75 basis points in 2026 [12][13] Digital Expansion - The company is expanding its digital offerings, including partnerships with fintechs and the launch of new products in various markets, such as the Ria app in Greece, Romania, and the Czech Republic [17][20] - Euronet's epay segment is diversifying its distribution channels and has seen strong performance in gaming-related branded payments, which constitute 37% of total branded payments margin [16][19]

Key Takeaways Marsh will report Q4 earnings Jan. 29, with EPS expected to rise 5.4% year over year.Marsh's Q4 revenue growth is expected to be driven by solid performance across key business segments.Marsh may face higher expenses from investments, compensation costs and rising interest expense.Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MRSH) is set to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 29, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegg ...

Core Insights - Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT) has formed a strategic partnership with DXC Technology to enhance global issuing, revolving credit, and payment capabilities for financial institutions [1][9] - The collaboration integrates DXC's Hogan core banking platform with Euronet's Ren issuing and payments solution, aiming to expedite the launch of card and credit programs while simplifying back-end operations [1][3] Partnership Details - The initial phase will focus on pre-integrated solutions for credit, debit, and revolving credit programs, as well as payment acceptance gateways [2] - Over time, the partnership is expected to expand into broader issuing and transaction services, allowing EEFT to deepen its integration into client workflows across various regions and use cases [2][5] Market Positioning - This partnership reinforces Euronet's position as a comprehensive payments provider, moving beyond being a standalone processor [3] - By leveraging Ren's technology and DXC's established banking platform presence, EEFT aims to engage more directly with financial institutions modernizing their legacy systems [3] Industry Trends - As digital-first competitors expand their card-based and embedded payment offerings, banks are reassessing their issuing and payments infrastructure to enhance speed, flexibility, and consistency [4] - This trend is driving interest in integrated issuing and processing frameworks that facilitate quicker product launches and smoother customer onboarding [4] Future Outlook - The partnership positions EEFT to strengthen its role in the evolving payments ecosystem, potentially supporting higher recurring transaction volumes and unlocking new market opportunities without significant incremental investment [5]

Core Insights - DXC Technology has announced a strategic partnership with Euronet Worldwide to enhance issuing, revolving credit, and payment capabilities for financial institutions globally [1][5] - The collaboration aims to integrate DXC's Hogan core banking platform, which manages over 300 million deposit accounts and $5 trillion in deposits, with Euronet's Ren platform for modern issuing and payment solutions [2][5] Company Overview - DXC Technology is a leading enterprise technology partner that provides software, services, and solutions to global enterprises, focusing on modernizing and securing complex technology environments [6] - Euronet Worldwide is a global leader in payment processing and cross-border transactions, offering a wide range of services including money transfers, credit and debit processing, and ATM services across more than 200 countries [7] Partnership Objectives - The partnership will enable mutual clients to adopt pre-integrated issuing and payment solutions that support various credit and debit programs, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing time to market for new products [3][4] - The collaboration is designed to help banks and fintechs modernize their payment infrastructures, allowing them to compete effectively and expand their market offerings [5][6] Market Context - As competition in financial services intensifies, issuing and payments have become critical growth areas for banks, prompting investments in modern capabilities to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and flexibility [4][5] - The partnership is positioned to address the fragmented nature of current issuing and payment processes, enabling faster deployment and scalability for financial institutions [5][6]

Core Insights - Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEFT) is currently viewed as one of the most undervalued fintech stocks, despite recent downgrades from analysts [1] - Wolfe Research downgraded the stock from Peer perform to Underperform with a price target of $80, citing structural pressures limiting revenue growth for payment service providers [2] - Monness also downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold, highlighting competitive pressures from independent channels that may affect long-term growth rates [3] Company Challenges - The company faces challenges in its European ATM business due to a rising trend in cash-to-card conversions [2] - Immigration headwinds are posing a threat to Euronet's retail remittance business, raising concerns about its growth prospects [2] - Competitive pressures from independent channels are also a concern for the company's long-term growth [3] Business Segments - Euronet Worldwide operates in three segments: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), epay, and Money Transfer, providing a range of payment solutions globally [3]

Core Viewpoint - American Century Investments Small Cap Value Fund reported a strong performance in the third quarter of 2025, with equities rising and the US Federal Reserve reducing interest rates for the first time this year [1] Group 1: Fund Performance - The investor class of the fund returned 4.69% in the third quarter, while the Russell 2000 Value Index returned 12.60% [1] - The fund focuses on investing in undervalued small-cap companies that do not accurately reflect their quality and potential earnings capability [1] Group 2: Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEFT) - Euronet Worldwide, Inc. is highlighted as a stock in the fund's portfolio, with a one-month return of 0.99% and a 52-week loss of 26.23% [2] - As of January 2, 2026, Euronet's stock closed at $74.10 per share, with a market capitalization of $3.116 billion [2] - The fund noted that Euronet's strong financial characteristics were overshadowed by challenges such as immigration policies and the rise of stablecoins affecting its money transfer business [3] Group 3: Hedge Fund Interest - Euronet Worldwide, Inc. was held by 30 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the third quarter, a decrease from 32 in the previous quarter [4] - The fund believes that certain AI stocks present greater upside potential and less downside risk compared to Euronet [4]

Company Overview - CrediaBank, based in Greece, is selling its merchant acquiring business to Euronet Worldwide as part of a broader partnership, with the deal expected to close in Q3 2026 [1][7] - CrediaBank, formerly known as Attica Bank, is the fifth-largest bank in Greece, holding €6.7 billion in deposits and operating 24,000 point-of-sale terminals across 20,000 merchants [3] Deal Details - Under the agreement, Euronet Merchant Services Payment Institution will take over CrediaBank's merchant acquiring business and manage the bank's ATM network, providing customers with free access to Euronet's 2,500 ATMs in Greece [2] - Euronet will also offer card management and transaction processing services for debit, credit, and prepaid cards [2] Industry Context - Greek banks have been divesting their merchant acquiring businesses in recent years, with notable transactions including Euronet's acquisition of Piraeus Bank's merchant acquiring business for €300 million in 2022 and Worldline's acquisition of an 80% stake in Eurobank's for €256 million [4] - The trend of divestment in the merchant acquiring sector is evident, as banks seek to streamline operations and focus on core banking services [4][7]

Core Thesis - Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT) is facing challenges but maintains a bullish outlook due to diversified remittance corridors, fintech transition, margin expansion, and compelling valuation despite recent market pressures [2][6][7] Financial Performance - As of November 28th, EEFT's share price was $74.09, with trailing and forward P/E ratios at 10.83 and 6.67 respectively [1] - The company experienced a revenue miss in Q3 2025, leading to a decline in share price into the $70s, attributed to short-seller pressure [2][3] - EPS guidance has been reaffirmed, indicating continued bottom-line strength despite slower top-line growth [2] Challenges - Q3 2025 revealed significant headwinds, particularly in Money Transfer due to stricter U.S. immigration enforcement and reduced low-income consumer activity [3] - ePay faced a decline after exiting a low-value top-up product, and overall margins softened due to inflation impacting travel budgets [3] Positive Developments - October Money Transfer trends showed improvement, suggesting that headwinds may be transitory [4] - New partnerships, including Heritage Grocers and a major Dandelion–Citibank integration, indicate strengthening competitive positioning [4] - Digital remittances grew by 32% year-over-year, with REN posting approximately 40% growth and software-like margins [4] Future Outlook - The updated model predicts moderated FY25 revenue but accelerating growth into FY26–FY27, supported by REN, CCRD, digital mix gains, and ongoing ATM outsourcing [5] - EPS growth is expected to remain strong due to margin expansion and buybacks, with EEFT appearing undervalued at 10.6x GAAP EPS relative to its durable earnings power [5]