Global Payments Inc. (GPN), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments. With a market cap of $18.4 billion, the company offers funds transfer, merchant banking, accounting, Internet, and other services. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as “large-cap stocks,” and GPN perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this mark, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within ...

Core Thesis - Global Payments Inc. (GPN) is viewed positively due to its solid fundamental performance and attractive valuation after a recent price pullback [2][3][6] Financial Performance - GPN's earnings per share (EPS) increased approximately 12% year over year, with revenue growing in the mid-single digits, indicating steady underlying demand [3] - The stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 7–8 times and generates an estimated 12% free cash flow yield, suggesting significant value for long-term investors [3] Debt and Valuation Concerns - The company's substantial debt load of $13.6 billion against an $18 billion market cap indicates high leverage, which is affecting profitability due to rising interest costs [4] - Approximately $600 million in interest expenses significantly impacted the company's $2.5 billion in operating income, leading to a discount on the stock despite stable fundamentals [4] Strategic Positioning - GPN is focusing on long-term growth through the acquisition of EVO Payments, aiming to transition towards a technology-enabled, software-centric business model [5] - If execution improves and debt is gradually reduced, the current valuation could present a compelling investment opportunity due to durable cash generation and potential for enhanced operating leverage [5] Market Sentiment - GPN's stock price has decreased by approximately 35.29% since previous bullish coverage, primarily due to market concerns despite solid fundamentals [6] - The number of hedge funds holding GPN decreased from 65 to 57, indicating a shift in market sentiment towards other investment opportunities [7]

Core Insights - Global Payments Inc. has significantly underperformed the broader market, with stock prices declining 31.9% year-to-date and 33.6% over the past 52 weeks, contrasting with the S&P 500 Index's gains of 14.3% in 2025 and 13.4% over the past year [2][3]. Financial Performance - In Q3, Global Payments reported a revenue of $2 billion, which was a 50 basis points year-over-year increase, exceeding market expectations by 90 basis points [4]. - The adjusted EPS for Q3 rose 11.8% year-over-year to $3.26, beating consensus estimates by 6.9% [4]. - For the full fiscal year 2025, analysts project an adjusted EPS of $11.64, reflecting a 5.3% year-over-year increase [5]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - The consensus rating among 30 analysts is a "Moderate Buy," with 11 "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," 16 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [5]. - TD Cowen analyst Bryan Bergin maintained a "Hold" rating and raised the price target from $92 to $95, with a mean price target of $107.17 indicating a 40.3% premium to current levels [7]. - The highest street target of $194 suggests a potential upside of 154% [7].

Core Viewpoint - Global Payments Inc. demonstrates strong financial performance and growth potential, supported by a positive outlook from Raymond James, which has raised the price target for the stock. Financial Performance - The company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.26, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.23, marking a 12% increase compared to the previous year [2] - Revenue for the third quarter rose by 3% to $2.4 billion, driven by strong performance in the Merchant and Issuer Solutions segments, surpassing consensus expectations by 0.9% [3] - The operating margin expanded by 110 basis points to 45%, attributed to reduced expenses and gains in core segments [3] Stock Performance - The current stock price for GPN is $79.51, reflecting an increase of approximately 3.12% or $2.41 [4] - Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a high of $120 and a low of $65.93, with a market capitalization of approximately $19.29 billion [4] - Raymond James reaffirmed its "Outperform" rating for GPN and raised the price target from $100 to $105 [5]

Group 1 - Global Payments Inc. is considered one of the most undervalued stocks to buy and hold for a period of 5 years [1] - Nathan Rozof has been appointed as the head of Investor Relations, responsible for leading the company's investor relations strategy [1][3] - Rozof has over two decades of experience in finance and capital markets, with a background in fintech and payments sectors [2] Group 2 - The CFO, Josh Whipple, emphasized Rozof's knowledge of the payments industry and his proven track record in investor engagement as key qualifications for his role [3] - Global Payments focuses on transparency, strategic execution, and deepening engagement with its global investor base as part of its growth initiatives [3] - The company provides payment technology and software solutions across two segments: Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions [4]

Market Valuation Insights - Richard Fisher, former Dallas Fed President, noted that valuations are strong and concentrated, with the S&P 500 increasing from 666 in March 2009 to 6,666 recently, a 10x increase [1] - Fisher highlighted that many investors perceive current valuations as rich or overpriced, particularly concentrated in a few companies [1] - Victoria Greene, CIO at G Squared Private Wealth, agreed that the market is overvalued, likening Powell's statement to stating the sky is blue, while acknowledging the dual risks of inflation and a weakening labor market [2] Undervalued Stocks - A list of the 10 most undervalued stocks to buy and hold for 5 years was compiled, focusing on stocks with a forward P/E ratio under 20 and an expected EPS growth of at least 15% over the next 3 to 5 years [5] - The strategy of selecting stocks that hedge funds are investing in has shown to outperform the market, with a reported return of 373.4% since May 2014 [6] Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) - Global Payments has a forward P/E ratio of 6.18 and an expected EPS growth of 17.95% over the next 3 to 5 years, with 57 hedge fund holders [7][8] - The company appointed Nathan Rozof as the head of Investor Relations, who brings over two decades of experience in finance and investor engagement [9][10] - Global Payments provides payment technology and software solutions, operating through Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions segments [11] The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) - Allstate has a forward P/E ratio of 9.27 and an expected EPS growth of 16.59% over the next 3 to 5 years, with 62 hedge fund holders [12] - The company reported $16.6 billion in revenue for Q2 2025, a 5.8% year-over-year increase, with net income of $2.1 billion [13] - Allstate's Property-Liability segment generated approximately $1.3 billion in underwriting income, achieving a combined ratio of 91.1%, a 10-point improvement from the prior year [13] - The Protection Services segment reported revenues of $867 million for the quarter, with a 16.6% increase over the prior year [14]

Company Overview - Global Payments Inc. (GPN) has a market capitalization of $20.4 billion and is a leading provider of payment technology and software solutions globally [1] - The company operates through its Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions segments, providing secure and innovative payment processing and software services to businesses and financial institutions [1] Market Position - Global Payments is categorized as a "large-cap" stock, with a global presence across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific [2] - The company continues to expand through strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, and advanced financial technology solutions [2] Stock Performance - Shares of Global Payments have decreased by 30.5% from their 52-week high of $120 [3] - Over the past three months, GPN shares have increased by 8.5%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 9.7% in the same period [3] - Year-to-date, GPN stock is down 25.6%, while the S&P 500 has risen by 12.5% [4] - Over the past 52 weeks, GPN shares have dropped 24.9%, compared to a 17.5% return for the S&P 500 [4] - The stock has been trading below its 200-day moving average since late February [4] Recent Financial Performance - On August 6, shares surged 9.1% after GPN reported Q2 2025 adjusted EPS of $3.10, exceeding Wall Street estimates [5] - Strong growth and margin expansion in both Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions segments contributed to increased investor confidence [5] - Management raised full-year adjusted profit guidance to the upper end of the 10% - 11% range and reaffirmed progress on the $24.25 billion Worldpay acquisition, indicating stronger long-term growth prospects [5] Analyst Sentiment - Despite the stock's weak performance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on GPN, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 31 analysts [6] - The mean price target for GPN is $105.72, representing a 27.5% premium to current levels [6]