Summary of Western Union Company FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) - **Date of Conference**: November 19, 2025 Key Industry Insights - **Remittance Market Growth**: The global remittance market is expected to grow in line with global GDP, projected at 3-4% [68] - **Geopolitical Impact**: The business is sensitive to geopolitical events, such as elections and conflicts, which can disrupt operations [68] Financial Performance - **Evolve Strategy**: The company is largely on track with its Evolve strategy set in 2022, although the current run rate is slightly lower than anticipated due to geopolitical factors [9][10] - **Revenue Trends**: In Q3, GAAP revenue was flat, with expectations of 0% to 2% growth, indicating challenges in North America [10][12] - **Retail Business Size**: The retail business is currently valued at approximately $2.5 billion, with expectations of low single-digit shrinkage in the coming years [36][37] Digital Strategy - **Digital Growth**: The digital business is projected to grow significantly, with a goal of 50% of revenue coming from digital and consumer services by 2028 [33][34] - **Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)**: The target is to maintain a CAC of under $20, which is considered industry-leading [27] - **Expansion Plans**: The company is expanding its digital services in underpenetrated markets, including the Philippines and Indonesia [28] Competitive Positioning - **Market Competitiveness**: Western Union is currently 70% competitive in pricing, with ongoing adjustments to maintain market position [14][15] - **Compliance and Security**: The company employs 3,000 compliance personnel to manage KYC and AML requirements, emphasizing the importance of regulatory adherence [21] Non-Remittance Revenue Growth - **Diversification Strategy**: Non-remittance revenue is expected to grow from 15% to 25% by 2028, driven by services like bill payment and digital wallets [46] - **Consumer Services Growth**: The consumer services segment is growing at over 20%, indicating strong demand for additional services [35] Acquisition of Intermex - **Strategic Acquisition**: The acquisition of Intermex is expected to add $500 million to $600 million in revenue, with significant synergies in digital capabilities and market reach [40][45] - **Market Expansion**: Intermex will allow Western Union to leverage its payout network to expand services to new corridors [43] Digital Asset Network - **Stablecoin Initiative**: The company is launching its own stablecoin, USDPT, which is expected to enhance transaction speed and reduce reliance on traditional banking systems [60][62] - **Consumer Empowerment**: The stablecoin will allow receivers to hold value in USD, providing them with more control over currency conversion [61] Risks and Opportunities - **Execution Risks**: The business is subject to execution risks related to geopolitical events and economic policies [68] - **Upside Potential**: Opportunities for growth include successful execution of the digital asset network, favorable immigration policies, and increased digital adoption [69] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the Western Union FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's strategic direction, financial performance, and market positioning.

Core Insights - Remitly Global's shares fell 23.7% following the release of its third-quarter results and preliminary 2026 guidance, which disappointed investors [1][5]. Financial Performance - Active customers increased by 21% to 8.9 million, leading to a 35% rise in send volume to $19.5 billion [3]. - Revenue grew by 25% to $419.5 million, surpassing estimates of $413.7 million, despite a declining take rate [3][4]. - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 29% to $61.2 million [3]. - The company reported a GAAP profit of $0.04 per share, translating to a net income of $8.8 million [4]. Guidance and Market Reaction - Remitly raised its full-year revenue guidance to between $1.619 billion and $1.621 billion, indicating a growth rate of 28% [4][5]. - The company anticipates positive GAAP net income for the year and adjusted EBITDA of $234 million to $236 million [5]. - However, the initial guidance for 2026 projected revenue growth in the high teens, which is a significant slowdown compared to 2025 and below the average analyst estimate of 19.2% [5][6]. Valuation - Following the sell-off, Remitly's forward P/E ratio is positioned at 12 based on 2026 adjusted EPS estimates, suggesting it may be well-priced for potential growth [6].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $144.3 million, down from $150.4 million in the same period last year [19] - Net income was $7.8 million, with adjusted EBITDA at $21.6 million and adjusted diluted EPS at $0.35 per share, all showing year-over-year declines [10][24] - Total volume sent increased by 4%, while total transactions sent decreased by over 5% year-over-year [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail transactions remain the foundation of the business, but the number of transactions decreased while the principal amount sent increased [10][11] - Digital transactions grew nearly 70% year-over-year, indicating strong growth in the digital segment [13][21] - The company invested more in digital marketing than ever before, which is expected to continue driving growth [13][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Four out of five top markets saw a decrease in transactions sent, despite total volume sent increasing significantly [11][19] - The overall market for remittances to Latin America remains resilient, but consumer behavior is shifting towards sending larger amounts less frequently [8][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on maintaining profitability while strategically investing in growth, particularly in the digital business [27] - The integration of La Nationale agents onto the Intermex tech platform is expected to streamline operations and reduce costs [16] - The company is committed to enhancing its omnichannel strategy, with digital being a critical component for future growth [13][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging economic, political, and immigration backdrop affecting the business model [7] - There is a belief that the current consumer behavior shift is not long-term, and the retail market will recover [34][106] - The company is revising its full-year guidance due to increased uncertainty and volatility in market conditions [25][26] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $151.8 million in cash and generated over $10 million in free cash flow [17][24] - Total debt decreased to $147.4 million from $156.6 million at year-end [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Near-term trends and behavior on retail vs digital side - Management noted that digital transactions grew much faster than retail, with digital growth at 70% year-over-year and increasing to 80% in April [32][34] Question: Revised full-year guidance and revenue trajectory - Management indicated that while revenue growth may improve, margins may not see significant improvement due to ongoing investments in digital [40][44] Question: Retention metrics and digital growth - Retail customer acquisition costs are about $2,500 per retailer, with payback in about seven months, while digital retention is slightly better than the prior quarter [50][55] Question: Monthly cadence and retail foot traffic stabilization - Management explained that they do not typically analyze monthly data due to variability but noted that retail performance is relatively stable [60][62] Question: Digital investment strategy - The company is committed to continuing its digital investments, viewing it as essential for future growth [71][72] Question: Impact of larger principal amounts on quarter performance - Management confirmed that if transactions had been at more normalized amounts, revenue could have been $7 million to $10 million higher [82]