Core Viewpoint - Columbia Threadneedle Investments reported a strong performance in its "Global Technology Growth Strategy" for Q2 2025, with a composite return of 25.11% gross of fees, outperforming the S&P Global 1200 Information Technology Index's return of 23.66% [1] Company Performance - Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) experienced a one-month return of -1.45% and a 52-week decline of 16.24%, closing at $86.95 per share with a market capitalization of $21.095 billion as of September 22, 2025 [2][3] - The company reported adjusted net revenue of $2.36 billion in Q2 2025, reflecting a 5% increase on a constant currency basis [4] Market Context - The market faced volatility at the beginning of Q2 2025 due to uncertainties from global tariffs, but later rebounded with a more lenient trade policy [1] - Global Payments Inc. faced execution risks during a busy quarter that included an asset acquisition and divestiture, which affected market confidence in its long-term growth potential [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Global Payments Inc. was held by 57 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, a decrease from 65 in the previous quarter [4]

Core Insights - PayNearMe aims to enhance payment services to lower acceptance costs and accelerate payment processes, thereby improving clients' cash flow and profitability [3][4] - The company has raised $50 million from Atlantic Vantage Point's Growth Fund I to expand into new markets and develop products that simplify the payment experience [9] Company Expansion - PayNearMe has been expanding its reach through partnerships with retailers, including collaborations with GreenDot and Walmart in 2021, Walgreens in 2022, and Dollar General in 2023 [5] - The company is also increasing its presence in the gambling sector by launching more ATMs that dispense cash winnings in partnership with NCR Atleos [6] Market Demand - A report released by PayNearMe indicates a strong preference among drivers for digital payment tools for toll payments, with PayPal (55%), Apple Pay (50%), Venmo (33%), Google Pay (32%), and Cash App (30%) being the most desired options [7] Product Development - PayNearMe has renamed its Payment Experience Management software to PayXM, which assists companies in managing payments across various payment forms [9]

Group 1 - Global Payments Inc. has launched its Genius platform for quick service restaurant (QSR) and fast casual customers in the UK [1] - The Genius platform is designed for speed and scalability, integrating multiple features such as Point of Sale (POS), Kitchen, Back Office, Payments, Drive Through, and Digital Signage into one solution [1] - This launch aims to address the complex needs of quick service and fast casual restaurants [1]

Core Insights - Nelnet Campus Commerce launched Notify, a communication platform aimed at enhancing outreach, relationships, and the billing and payment process for educational institutions [1][4] - Notify is designed to automate communication, ensuring messages are timely, accurate, and relevant, thereby reducing manual work for campus teams [2][3] - The platform addresses challenges faced by higher education institutions, allowing them to focus on building trust with students rather than logistical issues [3][4] Company Overview - Nelnet Campus Commerce serves nearly 1,000 colleges and universities and over 8 million students in the U.S., providing integrated payment solutions [5] - The company’s solutions are PCI Level 1 validated and compatible with major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, facilitating various payment processes [5] - Nelnet Business Services, a division of Nelnet, Inc., offers payment technology and community management solutions for both higher education and K-12 institutions globally [6]

Financial Performance - ACI's Payment Software segment revenue grew by 18% and Biller segment grew by 13% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year[12] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2025 increased by 24% compared to the first half of 2024[13] - The company repurchased 2.4 million shares in Q2 2025, representing 2.4% of shares outstanding[13,24] - ACI's net adjusted EBITDA margin was 34% in the first half of 2025, up from 31% in the first half of 2024[18,24,28] - ACI had $175 million in adjusted EBITDA in the first half of 2025[18,24] - Cash flow from operating activities was $128 million in the first half of 2025[18] Financial Position - ACI's cash balance was $190 million as of June 30, 2025[18,24] - The net debt leverage ratio was 1.4x[18,24] - The company retired $400 million senior unsecured notes maturing in 2026[24] Guidance - ACI is raising its full-year outlook for both revenue and adjusted EBITDA for 2025[13,24,36] - Updated full year 2025 revenue guidance is $1710 million to $1740 million, compared to the prior guidance of $1690 million to $1720 million[23] - Updated full year 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance is $490 million to $505 million, compared to the prior guidance of $480 million to $495 million[23]

Core Insights - Global Payments Inc (NYSE:GPN) stock has increased by 4.3%, reaching $80.92, following reports of activist investor Elliott Management acquiring a "sizeable" stake in the company [1] - Despite today's gains, the stock is still down 27.9% year-to-date, indicating significant volatility and potential challenges ahead [1] Analyst Sentiment - There is potential for positive outlooks if the current bearish sentiment among analysts shifts; out of 32 analysts, 22 have a "hold" or worse recommendation for Global Payments stock [2] - Short interest in Global Payments has decreased by 25.5% over the last two reporting periods, suggesting a retreat from short sellers; however, short interest still represents 3.7% of the stock's total float, equating to just over two days of buying power [2]

Core Insights - Oro Inc. has launched OroPay, a fully integrated payment platform designed for manufacturers and distributors using OroCommerce, aiming to streamline invoicing, payments, ERP connectivity, and commerce into a unified ecosystem [1][5] - OroPay is backed by a strategic partnership with Global Payments, making it available for OroCommerce users across North America and beyond [2] Centralizing Commerce and Finance - Many B2B businesses currently manage invoicing and payments through separate tools, leading to inefficiencies; OroPay addresses this by integrating payments directly into OroCommerce [3] - Sellers can manage invoicing, payments, and account data in one system, while buyers benefit from a self-service payment option using various digital methods [4] Features and Benefits - OroPay supports Level 2 and Level 3 credit card processing, significantly reducing fees for high-value B2B transactions, and offers advanced fraud protection and compliance features [6] - The platform is designed for flexibility and scalability, accommodating various complexities in B2B commerce, such as partial payments and multi-brand operations [7] Launch and Availability - OroPay is included by default with all OroCommerce deployments starting from version 5.1 LTS, with customers having the option to activate or opt out without penalty [7] - Onboarding is facilitated in collaboration with Global Payments, which provides dedicated implementation, training, and ongoing support [7] Company Background - Oro Inc. was founded in 2012 and is known for OroCommerce, the only open-source digital commerce platform specifically designed for B2B companies, serving global businesses in manufacturing, distribution, and wholesale [8] - Oro was recognized as a Visionary in Gartner's 2024 Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce [8] Operational Efficiency - The unified ecosystem of OroPay aims to reduce manual reconciliation and administrative time, while also accelerating collections with always-on digital payment options [9] - OroPay offers competitive pricing with transparent transaction fees that meet or beat market standards [9]

Group 1: Strategic Collaboration - ABeam Consulting (USA) Ltd. and Millennium EBS have signed a Master Services Agreement to promote the Millennium EBS Payment Hub: ISO 20022 Transformer, combining ABeam's expertise in business transformation with Millennium EBS's payment technology [1][2] - The collaboration aims to provide banks and financial institutions with a streamlined solution for ISO 20022 compliance, addressing the increasing pressure for migration to new messaging standards [2][3] Group 2: Benefits of ISO 20022 Transformer - The ISO 20022 Transformer facilitates seamless integration with legacy systems, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations and enhancing data quality and process efficiency [2][4] - Financial institutions can achieve greater operational efficiency in both domestic and cross-border payments through the implementation of the ISO 20022 Transformer [5][8] Group 3: Company Profiles - ABeam Consulting has over 42 years of experience and operates in 36 countries, serving more than 750 clients with a reported revenue of $1 billion for fiscal year 2024 [6][7] - Millennium EBS, a subsidiary of BlueOne Card Inc., has over two decades of experience in delivering reliable payment solutions and focuses on empowering small to medium-sized banks with regulatory-compliant ISO 20022 transformation [10]

Market Overview - The stock market is experiencing a new wave of uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and weaker-than-expected economic data, particularly in U.S. retail sales for May [1][2] - The Israel-Iran conflict has escalated, contributing to investor unease [1] - The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is a focal point, with expectations that weak economic data may lead to a more dovish stance from policymakers [2] Investment Strategy - In the current volatile market environment, a value investing approach focusing on fundamentally strong companies with reasonable prices is recommended [3] - Companies with high earnings yields are highlighted as potential investment opportunities [3] Earnings Yield Insights - Earnings yield is a key metric for assessing potential returns, calculated by dividing earnings per share by stock price [4] - A higher earnings yield may indicate undervaluation, while a lower yield could suggest overvaluation [5] - Comparing earnings yield to the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds can help determine investment worthiness [5] Screening Criteria - The primary screening criterion is an earnings yield greater than 10% [6] - Additional parameters include estimated EPS growth exceeding the S&P 500 and an average daily trading volume of at least 100,000 shares [7][6] - Stocks must also have a current price of $5 or more [8] Selected Stocks - Five stocks with earnings yields above 10% and strong growth potential have been identified: - **Aris Mining Corporation (ARMN)**: Expected earnings growth of 226% and 81% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [10] - **Quanex Building Products Corporation (NX)**: Projected earnings growth of 19.6% and 14% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, also with a Zacks Rank 1 [11] - **Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 62% and 13% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [12] - **Popular, Inc. (BPOP)**: Expected earnings growth of 17% and 20% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [13] - **Priority Technology Holdings Inc. (PRTH)**: Projected earnings growth of 108% and 34% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with a Zacks Rank 1 [14]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced significant gains in May, with the S&P 500 increasing by 6.2% and the Nasdaq rising by 9.6%, marking the best month for both indices since late 2023 [1] - Investor optimism was fueled by a temporary pause on new trade tariffs announced by Trump, alleviating fears regarding trade tensions with China and the EU [1] Geopolitical Risks - Despite the temporary relief, the threat of tariffs remains, as China accused the U.S. of violating their trade truce by tightening controls on AI chip exports and student visas, which has raised tensions again [2] - The interconnectedness of the U.S. and Chinese economies means that even minor disputes can significantly impact market stability [2] Investment Strategy - In uncertain times, investors are turning to value investing, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals that are undervalued [3] - Value stocks with high earnings yield can provide attractive returns, especially during periods of market volatility [4] Earnings Yield - Earnings yield is calculated by dividing a company's annual earnings per share (EPS) by its current stock price, indicating potential returns for investors [5] - A higher earnings yield suggests a stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, while a lower yield may indicate overvaluation [5][7] Stock Screening Criteria - A primary screening criterion for selecting stocks is an earnings yield greater than 10%, supplemented by estimated EPS growth, average daily volume, and current price thresholds [8][9][10] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) are expected to outperform their peers [10] Selected Value Stocks - Five value stocks with earnings yields exceeding 10% have been identified as appealing options amid rising U.S.-China tensions: AngloGold Ashanti (AU), Orchid Island Capital (ORC), LATAM Airlines (LTM), Priority Technology (PRTH), and Allianz (ALIZY) [11] - All five stocks show strong projected EPS growth through 2026 and meet liquidity, price, and growth criteria [11] Company Highlights - **AngloGold Ashanti (AU)**: Expected earnings growth of 95% in 2025 and 6.7% in 2026, with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a Value Score of A [12] - **Orchid Island Capital (ORC)**: Projected earnings growth of 394% in 2025 and 24.5% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [13] - **LATAM Airlines (LTM)**: Anticipated earnings growth of 27.5% in 2025 and 20% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score A [14] - **Priority Technology (PRTH)**: Expected earnings growth of 108% in 2025 and 34% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score A [15] - **Allianz (ALIZY)**: Projected earnings growth of 16.4% in 2025 and 9% in 2026, Zacks Rank 1, Value Score B [16]