Core Insights - Western Union reported quarterly earnings of $0.45 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.43 per share, and showing an increase from $0.40 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +4.34% [1] - The company posted revenues of $1.01 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, which was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.65% and a decrease from $1.06 billion year-over-year [2] - Western Union's stock has increased by approximately 1.4% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.2% [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.41, with expected revenues of $980.76 million, and for the current fiscal year, the EPS estimate is $1.80 on revenues of $4.1 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Western Union was mixed prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Financial Transaction Services industry, to which Western Union belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 46% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Paymentus, another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.18 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +38.5%, with revenues anticipated to be $310.34 million, up 20.3% from the previous year [9][10]

The Business Services group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Esco Technologies (ESE) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.Esco Technologies is one of 237 companies in the Business Services group. The Business Services group currently sits at #12 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from ...

Core Insights - Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY) reported quarterly earnings of $0.19 per share, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.02 per share, and compared to a loss of $0.03 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +1,037.73% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $442.18 million for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.44% and showing an increase from $351.89 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Remitly Global has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, indicating strong performance [2] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.06 on revenues of $424.94 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.37 on revenues of $1.92 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Remitly Global was favorable ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for the stock, suggesting expected outperformance in the near future [6] Market Performance - Remitly Global shares have underperformed the market, losing about 5.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has shown a zero return [3] - The outlook for the industry, particularly the Financial Transaction Services sector, is currently in the bottom 45% of Zacks industries, which may impact stock performance [8]

Industry Overview - The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the broader FinTech space, encompassing card and payment processing, ATM services, money remittance, and investment solutions for financial advisors [2] - The industry benefits from ongoing digitization accelerated by the pandemic, facilitating quick and secure monetary transactions across multiple currencies globally [2] Key Growth Drivers - Expanding global trade, rising international travel, and increasing demand for cross-border payments and remittances are key factors driving growth in the industry [5] - Continued e-commerce growth and a resilient labor market are sustaining transaction volumes, although inflation and tariff pressures may strain consumer budgets [1][4] Technology Investments - Companies are significantly increasing technology expenditures to enhance digital infrastructure, including investments in biometric authentication, QR-code payments, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms [3] - The rise in digital payments has led to increased exposure to cyber threats, prompting companies to invest heavily in cybersecurity and fraud detection systems [3] Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions - Companies in the sector are engaging in strategic mergers and acquisitions to strengthen digital ecosystems, expand service offerings, and enhance global reach [6][7] - Expectations for interest rate cuts in 2026 may encourage companies to utilize debt financing for M&A activities, allowing them to pursue growth opportunities while preserving cash [7] Consumer Spending Trends - Stable consumer spending supports higher transaction volumes, although persistent inflation may lead to more cautious spending behavior [4] - A resilient labor market with low unemployment and steady wage growth could help sustain consumer purchasing activity in the near term [4] Industry Performance - The Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry has underperformed compared to the Business Services sector and the S&P 500, declining 24.3% over the past year [11] - The industry's current valuation is at a forward 12-month price/earnings ratio of 18.15X, lower than the S&P 500's 22.51X [15] Notable Companies - **Global Payments**: Positioned for growth with strong performances in Merchant and Issuer Solutions, benefiting from increasing transaction volumes [18] - **Visa**: A major player in digital payments, expanding through strategic alliances and acquisitions, with a focus on technology investment [23] - **Mastercard**: Operates a multi-rail infrastructure for seamless payments, with a strong cross-border payments platform [26] - **Fiserv**: Maintains a competitive position in digital payments with a broad portfolio and strategic acquisitions [30] - **Fidelity National**: Achieving solid revenue growth through Banking and Capital Markets Solutions, with a strategic international footprint [34]

Global Payments (GPN) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.18 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $2.95 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -0.03%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this electronics payment processing company would post earnings of $3.23 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.26, delivering a surprise of +0.93%.Over the last four quart ...

PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS) closed at $10.29 in the latest trading session, marking a -2.46% move from the prior day. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.07%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 0.14%. The company's shares have seen an increase of 4.66% over the last month, surpassing the Business Services sector's loss of 7.85% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.43%.Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the perfor ...

RB Global (RBA) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.11 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.99 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.95 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +12.69%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this heavy equipment auctioneer would post earnings of $0.82 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.93, delivering a surprise of +13.41%.Over the last four quarters ...

Core Insights - PayPal Holdings (PYPL) reported transaction revenues of $7.82 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a 3% year-over-year growth and accounting for approximately 90.1% of its net revenues [1][8] - The growth in transaction revenues was driven by the rise in online shopping and mobile payments, contributing to solid quarterly results [1] Transaction Revenue Details - Transaction revenues primarily come from fees charged to merchants and consumers for payments processed through PayPal's platforms, calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee [2] - For Q4 2025, PayPal's transaction margin dollars (TM$) were reported at $4.03 billion, also up 3% year-over-year, with growth attributed to credit and omni initiatives, improved Payment Service Provider (PSP) profitability, and Venmo monetization efforts [3][8] Transaction Take Rate - The transaction take rate decreased by 9 basis points to 1.65% in Q4 2025, with a decline of about 7 basis points when excluding foreign exchange hedges [4] Peer Performance Comparison - Block's transaction revenues in Q3 2025 were $1.87 billion, up 9.4% year-over-year, representing 30.6% of its net revenues [5] - Payoneer Global's Q3 2025 total revenues were $270.9 million, up 9% year-over-year, with transaction revenue growth driven by increased transaction volume and improved SMB customer take rates [6] Valuation and Estimates - PayPal shares have declined 31% year-to-date, underperforming the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index [7] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month P/E of 7.40X, significantly lower than the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry's average of 18.15X, indicating a cheap valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been revised downward, suggesting a growth of only 1.3% year-over-year [10]

Core Viewpoint - Western Union is anticipated to report a year-over-year increase in earnings despite a decline in revenues for the quarter ended December 2025, with the actual results being crucial for its near-term stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for Western Union's quarterly earnings is $0.43 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.5%, while revenues are projected to be $1.04 billion, a decrease of 2.1% from the previous year [3]. - The stock may experience upward movement if the earnings report exceeds expectations, while a miss could lead to a decline [2]. Estimate Revisions - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 0.33%, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for Western Union is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in a positive Earnings ESP of +1.51%, suggesting a bullish outlook from analysts [12]. Earnings Surprise History - In the last reported quarter, Western Union exceeded the expected earnings of $0.43 per share by delivering $0.47, resulting in a surprise of +9.30% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times [14]. Industry Context - Global Payments, a competitor in the financial transaction services industry, is expected to report earnings of $3.18 per share for the same quarter, indicating a year-over-year increase of 7.8%, with revenues projected at $2.32 billion, up 1.4% [18]. - Global Payments has seen a 0.3% upward revision in its EPS estimate over the last 30 days, but it currently holds a negative Earnings ESP of -1.26%, complicating predictions for beating consensus estimates [19][20].

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year increase in earnings for PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS) due to higher revenues, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for PagSeguro Digital's upcoming quarterly earnings is $0.42 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 23.5% [3]. - Expected revenues for the quarter are $1.02 billion, which is a 16.8% increase from the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 8.04% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for PagSeguro Digital matches the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of 0% [12]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - A positive Earnings ESP is a strong indicator of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) [10]. - PagSeguro Digital currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3, making it challenging to predict an earnings beat conclusively [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, PagSeguro Digital had an earnings surprise of +2.86%, with actual earnings of $0.36 per share against an expected $0.35 [13]. - The company has beaten consensus EPS estimates in the last four quarters [14]. Industry Comparison - Remitly Global, another player in the Financial Transaction Services industry, is expected to post earnings of $0.02 per share, indicating a year-over-year change of +166.7% [19]. - Remitly Global's revenues are projected to be $427.46 million, up 21.5% from the previous year, with a higher Most Accurate Estimate leading to an Earnings ESP of +80.00% [19][20].