Should You Scoop Up Shares of Western Union on the Dip?

NYSE: WU | Western Union Co. News, Ratings, and Charts

WU – Shares of money transfer services provider Western Union (WU) have tumbled recently on the back of a broader market dip and concerns surrounding the halt of its operations in Russia and Belarus. Although strategic partnerships could help expand its global network significantly, a decline in retail money transfers and expenses related to the recent divestiture of its Business Solutions segment could mar its growth. So, can the stock recover from its recent price dip? Read on to learn our view.

Money transfers and payment services company Western Union Company (WU) in Englewood, Colo., is a global leader in international cross-border transfers and intra-country money movement. As a premier financial services provider, the company maintains strong operating cash flows and has strengthened its digital money transfer services significantly. Its Westernunion.com revenue rose 4% on a reported basis, driven by 7% cross-border revenue growth in the first quarter of 2022.

However, shares of WU have plummeted 8% in price over the past month and 2.7% year-to-date. This could be due primarily to the broader market hitting new lows last week and investors’ concern surrounding the fintech leader’s recent suspension of business in Russia and Belarus.

While the company’s strategic collaborations to expand its cross-border money transfer channels should bolster its revenue growth, a decline in retail money transfers because of the Russia-Ukraine war could negatively impact its balance sheet. Moreover, WU lowered its 2022 outlook because of the cessation of its operations in Russia and Belarus and other related impacts. Closing its last session at $16.96, the stock is trading 34.7% below its 52-week high of $25.98.

Here is what could influence WU’s performance in the coming months:

Strategic Collaborations

This month, WU agreed with PagaPhone SmartPay, a Mexican e-Wallet company, to enable users to send money using any of its channels, including WU.com, the mobile app, or retail locations to Mexico. The partnership should help the fintech company to cater to growing customer demand and capitalize on the surge in remittances in Mexico.

In addition,  the payment services provider collaborated with SuperGIROS, which is part of the Acciones & Valores network, to offer Columbians more than 9,800 additional retail locations for global money movement and payments. This should help expand WU’s global network and allow it to serve more users.

Divestiture of Business Solutions and Suspension of Operations

In March, the financial services company completed the first closing of its divestiture of its Business Solutions unit. It expects to complete the second closing during the second quarter of 2022. While WU plans to deploy the proceeds from the sale strategically, exit costs related to the divestiture could make investors nervous about the stock’s prospects.

Also, the suspension of its Western Union operations in Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war in Ukraine could negatively impact its profitability in the coming quarters.

Mixed Growth Estimates

Analysts expect WU’s revenues to decline 9.2% in the current quarter (ending June 30, 2022), 9.8% in 2022, and 0.6% next year. WU has an impressive earnings history; it beat the Street’s estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. But the company’s EPS is expected to decline 14.6% year-over-year to $0.41 in the current quarter and 31.7% from the year-ago value to $0.43 next quarter. However, WU’s EPS is expected to increase  6.8% per annum over the next five years.

Mixed Financial Performance

WU’s revenue declined 4% on a reported basis to $1.2 billion in the first quarter ended March 31, 2022. Although its digital money transfer revenues grew 5% on a reported basis, the company’s Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) revenues declined 5% on a reported basis. Moreover, its cash and cash equivalents came in at $2.06 billion, compared to $2.28 billion in the first quarter of 2021. While its total segment operating income grew 10% year-over-year, the company’s revenues from Business Solutions fell 8% from the prior-year quarter to $89.1 million.

POWR Ratings Reflect Uncertainty

WU has an overall C rating, which translates to Neutral in our POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors with each factor weighted to an optimal degree. 

Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight distinct categories. WU has a C grade for Quality. The stock’s 43.3% trailing-12-month gross profit margin, which is 14.3% lower than the 50.5% industry average, is in sync with this grade.

Furthermore, the company has a Momentum grade of C, which is consistent with its price returns over the past month.

In terms of Sentiment Grade, WU has an F. This is consistent with analysts’ expectations that its revenue and EPS will decline in the current quarter.

In addition to the grades I have highlighted, one can check out additional WU ratings for Stability, Value, and Growth here. WU is ranked #28 of 50 stocks in the D-rated Consumer Financial Services industry.

Bottom Line

Surging digital money transfer demand and an expanding global network to serve a larger customer base have benefited the leading fintech company. However, WU’s declining C2C revenues and the divestiture of its Business Solutions segment have added uncertainties to its prospects. Furthermore, the halt of its services in Russia and Belarus could affect its profitability in the near term. Therefore, we think investors should wait for its prospects to improve before investing in the stock.

How Does Western Union Company (WU) Stack Up Against its Peers?

While WU has an overall C (Neutral) rating in our proprietary rating system, one might want to check out its industry peers with B (Buy) ratings: Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC), Regional Management Corp. (RM) and OneMain Holdings, Inc. (OMF).

Want More Great Investing Ideas?

3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year


WU shares fell $0.21 (-1.24%) in premarket trading Monday. Year-to-date, WU has declined -3.64%, versus a -13.13% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


About the Author: Imon Ghosh


Imon is an investment analyst and journalist with an enthusiasm for financial research and writing. She began her career at Kantar IMRB, a leading market research and consumer consulting organization. More...


More Resources for the Stocks in this Article

TickerPOWR RatingIndustry RankRank in Industry
WUGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
ATLCGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
RMGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
OMFGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating

Most Popular Stories on StockNews.com


Stock Investing AFTER the Election

The S&P 500 (SPY) has been stuck under the highs awaiting the election results. The biggest mystery is how soon results will be finalized. The second biggest concern is what the Fed will do at their 11/7 meeting. Steve Reitmeister shares his views on these things along with fresh market outlook and preview of his top 10 stocks to buy now.

3 Streaming Stocks Benefiting from Cord-Cutting Trends

As streaming continues to dominate the digital entertainment landscape, the global streaming market presents a lucrative investment opportunity. So, it could be ideal to invest in fundamentally solid streaming stocks Netflix (NFLX), Walt Disney (DIS), and Roku (ROKU). Read further...

3 Gold Stocks to Buy as Safe-Haven Demand Grows

Gold is a stable investment now due to its role as a safe-haven asset during economic uncertainty, rising demand, industrial use, and growth, bolstered by central bank purchases and interest rate cuts. Therefore, investors should consider investing in top gold stocks such as Newmont (NEM), Barrick Gold (GOLD), and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). Read more...

3 AI Stocks Transforming Industries and Driving Future Growth

With rapid digitalization, rapid adoption, and development, as well as surging demand, the AI market is on the rise. Amid this backdrop, investors could buy fundamentally solid AI stocks NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta Platforms (META) poised for substantial gains. Continue reading...

Investors: Are You Ready for November?

The S&P 500 (SPY) tumbled to end October. Is that a harbinger of more downside to come? Or will the bull market return with gusto? Investment pro Steve Reitmeister shares his time market views including a preview of his favorite stocks. Get the full story below...

Read More Stories

More Western Union Co. (WU) News View All

Event/Date Symbol News Detail Start Price End Price Change POWR Rating
Loading, please wait...
View All WU News