Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 26, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsChristopher Cruz - CFODominic Ball - VP of Equity ResearchTaylor Lauber - CEOThomas McCrohan - Head of Investor RelationsWill Nance - VPConference Call ParticipantsDan Dolev - Managing Director and Senior Fintech Equity Research AnalystDan Perlin - Managing Director and Senior Equity AnalystDarrin Peller - Managing Director and Senior AnalystTimothy Chiodo - Managing Director and Lead Equity Research AnalystO ...

Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 26, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsChristopher Cruz - CFODominic Ball - VP of Equity ResearchTaylor Lauber - CEOThomas McCrohan - Head of Investor RelationsWill Nance - VPConference Call ParticipantsDan Dolev - Managing Director and Senior Fintech Equity Research AnalystDan Perlin - Managing Director and Senior Equity AnalystDarrin Peller - Managing Director and Senior AnalystTimothy Chiodo - Managing Director and Lead Equity Research AnalystO ...

Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 26, 2026 08:30 AM ET Speaker5Hello, and welcome to today's Shift4 Payments, Inc. Q4 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions during the question-and-answer session. To register to ask a question at any time, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. We will be standing by should you need any assistance. It is now my pleasure to turn the meeting ov ...

Core Insights - Shift4 Payments, Inc. is actively integrating its acquisition of Global Blue, enhancing its payment solutions through investments in AI and tokenization [1] Company Overview - Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE: FOUR) is a leader in commerce-enabling technology, processing billions of transactions annually for a diverse range of businesses [4] - The company offers an end-to-end solution that includes secure payment processing, point-of-sale systems, and advanced software integrations across various sectors [4] Leadership Profile - Taylor Lauber has been with Shift4 since 2018, serving as CEO and Chairman of the Board, and has a long history with the company dating back to his internship 25 years ago [2] - Prior to Shift4, Lauber held significant roles at Blackstone and Merrill Lynch, showcasing a strong background in finance and strategy [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has experienced tremendous growth, with employee count more than doubling to 6,000 in the last 18 months [12][13] - The acquisition of Global Blue for $2.5 billion is seen as a strategic move to enhance the company's position in the market [18][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shift4 serves approximately 40% of hotels and 75% of stadiums in the United States, indicating a strong presence in these sectors [5][12] - The Global Blue business, which Shift4 acquired, was growing at high teens to 20% even before the acquisition, showcasing its strong market position [23][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is now operating in 75 countries, a significant expansion from two years ago, indicating a robust international growth strategy [12][47] - The company aims to replicate its U.S. success in international markets, particularly focusing on small merchants who benefit the most from their solutions [42][46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Shift4's strategy emphasizes a "one-stop shop" approach for in-person commerce solutions, integrating various services under one roof [5][8] - The company is investing in brand visibility to enhance customer confidence and recognition, moving away from being a behind-the-scenes player [29][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the skepticism surrounding the payment processing industry and emphasizes the need for delivering substantial value to merchants [50][51] - The company believes that many international markets are still using outdated solutions, presenting an opportunity for Shift4 to introduce innovative technologies [41][48] Other Important Information - The company has a mature playbook for combining technologies to serve complex merchants, which is not limited to specific verticals [46][47] - Shift4's acquisition strategy focuses on buying proven assets to reduce risk and enhance competitive positioning [31][35] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the company's vision for the future? - The company aims to expand its presence globally, leveraging its playbook to deliver innovative solutions to merchants [46][48] Question: How does the acquisition strategy work? - The company prefers acquiring proven solutions rather than building from scratch, which reduces risk and capital intensity [35][36] Question: What differentiates Shift4 from competitors? - Shift4 focuses on providing comprehensive solutions for large merchants, making it less competitive in a fragmented market [27][28]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has experienced significant growth, doubling its employee count to 6,000 in the past 18 months and expanding into 75 countries that it was not in two years ago [12][13] - The acquisition of Global Blue for $2.5 billion is seen as a strategic move to enhance the company's position in the luxury retail sector, with Global Blue holding an 85% market share in tax-free shopping services [21][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shift4 serves approximately 40% of hotels and 75% of stadiums in the United States, indicating a strong presence in these sectors [5][12] - The company has focused on in-person commerce solutions, which has allowed it to maintain a competitive edge in complex environments like casinos and large venues [5][6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is positioned to capitalize on markets that are still using outdated payment processing solutions, similar to how the U.S. operated 15-20 years ago [40][41] - There is a growing demand for integrated commerce solutions globally, particularly in restaurants, hotels, and retail sectors [42] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain its ambitious growth strategy while adapting its organizational structure to support its expansion into new markets [12][13] - Shift4's acquisition strategy focuses on enhancing its service offerings and reducing capital intensity compared to competitors, allowing for more efficient customer acquisition [35][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the skepticism surrounding payment processors and emphasizes the need to deliver substantial value to merchants, which is driving the success of companies like Shift4 [50][51] - The company is confident in its ability to expand its market presence and improve operational efficiency, with a goal of achieving 50% EBITDA margins [51] Other Important Information - The company is investing in brand visibility to enhance customer confidence and recognition, aiming to make the Shift4 brand more prominent in the commerce space [30] - Shift4's strategy includes leveraging its existing technology and partnerships to deliver comprehensive solutions to complex merchant environments [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the company's vision for the future? - The company aims to replicate its successful playbook across different verticals and geographies, focusing on delivering integrated solutions that help merchants run their businesses more effectively [46][48] Question: How does the company differentiate itself from competitors? - Shift4 positions itself as a provider of comprehensive solutions for large merchants, contrasting with competitors that focus on simpler software solutions [27][28] Question: What is the rationale behind the acquisition strategy? - The company believes that acquiring established businesses allows for lower risk and capital intensity compared to building solutions from scratch, enhancing its competitive position [35][36]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has experienced significant growth, doubling its employee count to 6,000 in the past 18 months, indicating a robust expansion strategy [11][12] - The acquisition of Global Blue for $2.5 billion is a strategic move to enhance the company's position in the tax-free shopping market, which is expected to add substantial value [17][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shift4 serves approximately 40% of hotels and 75% of stadiums in the U.S., showcasing its strong presence in the hospitality and sports sectors [5][11] - The Global Blue business, acquired by Shift4, was already growing at high teens to 20% annually, indicating a healthy addition to the company's portfolio [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company operates in 75 countries, a significant increase from two years ago, highlighting its international expansion efforts [12][48] - The competitive landscape in retail is described as fragmented, with only two major players in tax-free shopping, positioning Shift4 favorably for growth [20][25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain its ambitious growth trajectory while adapting its organizational structure to support its expansion into new markets [12][48] - Shift4's strategy includes a focus on integrating payment processing with software solutions, which has proven successful in the U.S. and is expected to replicate in international markets [40][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management emphasizes the need for innovation in payment solutions, as many international markets still operate with outdated systems [41][49] - The company believes it can deliver substantial value to merchants by providing integrated solutions that simplify commerce, contrasting with legacy payment processors [51][52] Other Important Information - The company is investing in brand visibility to enhance customer confidence and recognition, aiming to make the Shift4 brand more prominent in the marketplace [30] - Shift4's acquisition strategy is likened to Netflix's approach, focusing on acquiring proven assets rather than building from scratch, which reduces risk [36] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the company's vision for the future? - The company aims to leverage its mature playbook to expand into more verticals and geographies, replicating its U.S. success internationally [48] Question: How does the company differentiate itself in the market? - Shift4 focuses on providing comprehensive solutions for complex merchants, ensuring that they are not competing on a price basis with low-barrier software solutions [27][28] Question: What is the rationale behind the acquisition strategy? - The company believes that acquiring established businesses allows for lower capital intensity in growth compared to organic customer acquisition [35]

Summary of Shift4's Earnings Call Company Overview - **Company**: Shift4 Payments, a financial services and fintech company - **New CFO**: Chris Cruz, who has nearly a decade of experience on Shift4's board and a background in financial services [1][2] Key Highlights from the Quarter - **Performance**: Shift4 delivered results in line with expectations and affirmed medium-term guidance, aiming for an adjusted free cash flow exit rate of $1 billion by 2027 [3][4] - **Acquisition Integration**: The integration of Global Blue is ahead of schedule, with expectations for significant revenue growth in 2026 [4][5] - **Share Repurchase Program**: A $1 billion share repurchase program was authorized, doubling the previous program, indicating confidence in the company's valuation [5][6] Focus Areas for Upcoming Year 1. **Diversification and Scaling**: Shift4 aims to expand its market presence across six continents, particularly in Europe, while maintaining strong EBITDA margins [6][7] 2. **Cross-Selling Opportunities**: The company plans to leverage the Global Blue acquisition to enhance value creation through cross-selling [7][8] 3. **Market Leadership in Restaurants**: Shift4 sees significant growth potential in its SkyTab product, especially in international markets [8][9] Market Entry Strategy - **Disciplined Approach**: Shift4 employs a disciplined strategy for entering new markets, using its existing strengths in payment processing and market-leading positions in various sectors [10][11] - **Focus on Luxury Retail**: The company is targeting luxury retail markets, leveraging its Global Blue acquisition to enhance tax-free shopping experiences [12][13] Financial Metrics and Guidance - **Organic Growth**: Shift4 reported an 18% organic growth rate, with significant contributions from international markets and luxury retail [21][22] - **Adjusted Free Cash Flow**: The company aims for over 50% adjusted free cash flow conversion, with growth and deleveraging as key drivers [33][34] Global Blue Acquisition Insights - **Performance Variability**: Global Blue's performance showed a -11% sales in store metric in Asia-Pacific, primarily due to challenging comparisons from the previous year, while Europe saw a +13% growth [40][41] - **Long-Term Growth Potential**: The Global Blue business is expected to grow in the low to mid double digits, with significant opportunities for payment cross-sell [42][43] Macro Sensitivity and Market Dynamics - **Consumer Behavior**: Shift4's data indicates a bifurcated consumer market, with lower-end consumers pulling back while affluent consumers remain strong [17][18] - **Currency Impact**: The strength of the US dollar affects demand for luxury goods, with a preference for a strong dollar to drive international purchases [46][47] Capital Allocation Strategy - **Priorities**: Shift4's capital allocation focuses on customer acquisition, product enhancements, inorganic growth, and share repurchases, with a current emphasis on share buybacks due to attractive valuations [28][29] - **Leverage Management**: The company aims to maintain a net leverage ratio below 3.75 times, with plans for continued deleveraging [31][32] Conclusion - **Durability of Growth**: Shift4 emphasizes its ability to sustain high growth rates and aims to close the valuation gap by demonstrating consistent performance and strategic execution [39][40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross revenue less network fees reached $589 million, up 61% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA was $292 million, reflecting a 56% increase [3][14] - Excluding the impact of Global Blue, gross revenue less network fees grew 19% year over year, with organic growth at 18% [4][15] - Adjusted free cash flow was a record $141 million, with a conversion rate of 48% [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription and other revenue was $119 million in Q3, up 16% compared to the same period last year, driven by market-leading vertical software solutions [15] - Blended spreads on payment volume remained stable at 62 basis points, with expectations for full-year spreads to exceed 60 basis points [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Asia, same-store sales were negative 11% in Q3 but showed recovery in October [5] - Global Blue contributed $156 million to gross revenue less network fees and $68 million to EBITDA, despite headwinds in the Asia-Pacific market [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for 30% plus gross revenue less network fee growth over the medium term, supported by attractive capital allocation opportunities [4] - The acquisition of Bambora, a $90 billion payment gateway, is expected to enhance customer acquisition and product capabilities [12][37] - The company is focused on deleting non-core business lines and enhancing revenue quality through strategic divestitures [11][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted volatility in same-store sales, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality sectors, but emphasized the company's diversified and scaled operations [5][6] - The competitive landscape remains unchanged, with the company holding leading positions in various verticals [6][7] - Management expressed optimism about the potential of AI applications to enhance operational leverage and decision-making [17] Other Important Information - The board authorized a new $1 billion stock repurchase program, the largest in the company's history, to take advantage of current valuation levels [13][20] - The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting volume to range from $207 billion to $210 billion, representing 26%-27% year-over-year growth [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the implications of Jared getting nominated to NASA? - Management indicated that it could simplify the company's structure and share class, with Jared remaining the largest shareholder [30] Question: Can you provide more context around the $90 billion gateway opportunity with Bambora? - Management highlighted the potential for revenue synergies and the importance of converting existing customers to a consolidated payment solution [33][36] Question: How does the company view organic growth moving forward? - Management confirmed that the 18% organic growth excludes acquisition impacts and aligns with medium-term guidance [41][80] Question: What is the company's philosophy on guidance? - Management emphasized a cautious approach to guidance, reflecting the current macroeconomic environment and industry volatility [51][56] Question: How does the company plan to utilize the new share buyback authorization? - Management stated that the current valuation presents an attractive opportunity for share repurchases without compromising other investment priorities [67][70]

Core Insights - Shift4 has initiated exclusive negotiations to acquire Bambora North America from Worldline, with the deal expected to close in Q1 2026, pending regulatory approvals [1] - Bambora North America serves over 140,000 merchants in Canada and the US, providing a payment gateway for online and in-person transactions [1] - Shift4 aims to leverage this acquisition to enhance its customer base and payment volume, similar to previous successful acquisitions [3] Company Operations - Shift4 operates through a network of over 500 independent software vendors (ISVs) to distribute its services across various specialized sectors [2] - Barclays has been appointed as Shift4's exclusive financial advisor for the acquisition, while Bennett Jones is providing legal counsel [2] - Worldline has engaged Jefferies as its financial advisor and Norton Rose as its legal advisor for the transaction [2] Strategic Rationale - The CEO of Shift4, Taylor Lauber, emphasized that this acquisition aligns with the company's strategy to expand its customer base and improve payment experiences through a comprehensive commerce solution [3] - The acquisition follows Shift4's previous purchase of Global Blue, a Swiss payments firm, in July 2025, which was valued at approximately $2.5 billion [4] - Global Blue specializes in tax-refund and currency conversion technology services, catering to retail and hospitality sectors globally [4]