Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP/Getty Images After Maura Fonseca moved to Houston from Mexico in 2011, she often waited hours in line at Western Union to send money to her three children and her mother. The fees were so steep she sometimes had to borrow money to pay them. Most Read from Bloomberg These days, Fonseca sends money home using Felix Pago, a WhatsApp-based digital app. “It’s so much better because it’s cheaper, instantaneous and I don’t have to leave my house,” said the 60-year-old w ...

Shares of Remitly Global (NASDAQ: RELY) popped 26.3% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The remittance provider released earnings on February 18th, showing strong growth, healthy margin expansion, and providing robust guidance for 2026. However, shares of Remitly are still down 64% from highs set at the time of its initial public offering (IPO) five years ago. Here's why Remitly shares are soaring in February, and whether it is a buy for your portfolio today. Will AI crea ...

Core Insights - Remitly Global reported strong fourth-quarter earnings and provided optimistic guidance for 2026, resulting in a 30% increase in its stock price this week [1][2]. Financial Performance - In Q4, Remitly experienced a 19% year-over-year increase in active customers, a 26% rise in revenue, and a 35% growth in send volume, showcasing impressive double-digit growth [3]. - The company achieved a GAAP operating margin of 9% in Q4, marking a record for the business, while also investing heavily in marketing and product development [4]. Future Outlook - For 2026, Remitly is guiding for revenue growth of up to 20% and adjusted EBITDA between $340 million and $360 million [4]. - The current market cap of Remitly is $3.6 billion, translating to a 10x multiple on its adjusted earnings guidance for 2026, indicating that the stock appears undervalued given its consistent double-digit growth [6].

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 - The technology sector is experiencing a bull market, yet many stocks, including some hypergrowth stocks, are trading at lower multiples, presenting attractive entry points for investors in 2026 [1][2][9] - Coupang, a leading e-commerce platform in South Korea, reported a 20% year-over-year growth in net revenue and a 22% increase in gross profit, with active users rising by 10% to nearly 25 million [4][8] - A data leak scandal involving the exposure of customer data for approximately 34 million accounts has negatively impacted Coupang, leading to a 4% decline in weekly active customers [5][6] Group 2 - Despite the data breach, Coupang's fundamentals remain strong, with a market cap of $43 billion, trailing revenue over $33 billion, and a clean balance sheet, making it an attractive hypergrowth stock for 2026 [8] - Remitly Global is identified as a fast-growing remittance provider with significant potential for operational expansion [9]

Core Viewpoint - Remitly Global is positioned as a potential high-growth stock, with the potential to become a "10-bagger" due to its small-cap status and market share growth opportunities [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Remitly Global operates as a modern remittance service with a user-friendly mobile application and competitive low transfer fees [3]. - The company currently holds a global market share of less than 10%, indicating significant room for revenue growth as it continues to capture market share from competitors [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Remitly's revenue grew by 25% year-over-year in the last quarter, showcasing its strong growth trajectory [3]. - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $2.8 billion, with trailing revenue exceeding $1.5 billion, indicating it is undervalued relative to its revenue [5]. - Despite being down 73% from its all-time highs, Remitly's business model exhibits strong unit economics, suggesting potential for future profitability once growth spending stabilizes [6]. Group 3: Market Position - The company is recognized for steadily gaining market share from legacy competitors, aligning with investment strategies that favor market-share gainers [2]. - Remitly's gross margin stands at 57.91%, reflecting its operational efficiency [2].

Core Viewpoint - Western Union's introduction of the U.S. Dollar Payment Token (USDPT) on Solana and the Digital Asset Network highlights the potential of stablecoins as an opportunity for remittance firms rather than a threat [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - Western Union shares increased by 6.5% following the announcement of USDPT and the Digital Asset Network [1]. - The Digital Asset Network will provide cash-out access at 380,000 Western Union agents, indicating a strategy to monetize stablecoin flows [2]. Group 2: Market Analysis - Analysts from William Blair anticipate that stablecoin remittances could enhance settlement speed, reduce pre-funding requirements, and improve capital efficiency, particularly in markets susceptible to inflation [2]. - Despite advancements in digital services, Western Union faces sluggish core money transfer growth and potential challenges from a remittance tax set to take effect in 2026 [3]. Group 3: Financial Metrics - Western Union's current dividend yield stands at 10%, with a low price-to-earnings ratio of 5.3x for 2026, which is expected to support the stock price [3]. - Following the market opening, WU shares rose by 2% to $9.68 [3].

Core Insights - Western Union is piloting stablecoin settlement solutions to reduce reliance on traditional banking systems [1][5] - The company views stablecoins as an opportunity rather than a threat, although it currently lags behind competitors like MoneyGram and Zepz [2][3] - Stablecoin wallets are particularly valuable in emerging markets where remittance inflows are crucial [4] Company Developments - CEO Devin McGranahan confirmed the pilot of stablecoin solutions on October 24 [1] - Western Union is expanding partnerships to enable customers to hold and move stablecoins [4] - The company aims to integrate stablecoins into its treasury operations for faster, more transparent, and cost-effective money transfers [5] Industry Trends - Other remittance providers, such as MoneyGram and Zepz, have already adopted stablecoin technology [3][7] - Major banks globally are exploring blockchain technology and stablecoin systems to enhance their payment solutions [8] - Traditional financial institutions are under pressure to innovate due to the rise of digital payment solutions, with SWIFT and major card networks actively developing their own blockchain capabilities [8]

Core Insights - Western Union is launching a stablecoin settlement pilot program aimed at reducing reliance on traditional banking systems and enhancing settlement efficiency and fund transparency [1] Company Overview - Western Union processes approximately 70 million transactions per quarter, covering over 200 countries globally [1]

Core Insights - XYRA Corp. is strategically expanding into Mexico's fintech and remittance markets, aiming to connect these two dynamic financial sectors [1][3] - The company is developing an AI-driven, quantum-secure payment infrastructure that integrates remittances with fintech through tokenization, enhancing financial inclusion [2][6] Industry Overview - Mexico is a significant financial hub, with a remittance corridor and a rapidly growing fintech ecosystem projected to reach $65 billion by 2033 [3] - The country sees millions of transfers from the U.S. weekly, supporting families and small businesses, while over 800 fintech startups provide credit access to millions of users [4] Current Challenges - Despite the growth, remittances and fintech have evolved separately, with traditional transfers taking 2-5 days and incurring fees over 6%, while local fintechs lack access to verified cross-border data [5] XYRA's Solution - XYRA's system allows U.S. users to send money converted into quantum-secure stablecoins, instantly settled in Mexican pesos and accessible via an XYRA credit card [7] - The platform employs post-quantum cryptography and AI to automate compliance, detect fraud, and generate real-time credit scoring, creating a self-reinforcing economic loop [7] Future Prospects - The integration of remittances and fintech is expected to transform traditional money transfers into long-term financial empowerment opportunities [8] - XYRA's initiative marks a significant milestone in bridging the gap between these two sectors, with plans for global expansion [8]