Western Union (WU)
Market Price (12/4/2025): $8.925 | Market Cap: $2.9 BilSector: Financials | Industry: Transaction & Payment Processing Services
Western Union (WU)
Market Price (12/4/2025): $8.925Market Cap: $2.9 BilSector: FinancialsIndustry: Transaction & Payment Processing Services
Investment Highlights
Why It Matters
Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?
1. Generates cash flow
The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.
2. Riding a trend
Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 42%, Dividend Yield is 12%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 38%, FCF Yield is 16% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -58%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -91% | Weak revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -2.5%, Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -4.2%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -0.3% |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13% | Meaningful short interestShort Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 13% | |
| Valuation becoming less expensiveP/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -27% | ||
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 33% | ||
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Fintech & Digital Payments. Themes include Digital Payments, and Cross-border Remittances. |
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 42%, Dividend Yield is 12%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 38%, FCF Yield is 16% |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13% |
| Valuation becoming less expensiveP/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -27% |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 33% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Fintech & Digital Payments. Themes include Digital Payments, and Cross-border Remittances. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -58%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -91% |
| Meaningful short interestShort Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 13% |
| Weak revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -2.5%, Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -4.2%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -0.3% |
Valuation, Metrics & Events
WU Stock
Why The Stock Moved
Qualitative Assessment
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
The stock of Western Union (WU) experienced a positive movement of approximately 7.4% during the period from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025, driven by several key factors.
1. Western Union reported strong third-quarter 2025 financial results on October 23, 2025. The company's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.47 surpassed analysts' consensus estimates of $0.43. While GAAP revenue was flat year-over-year at $1.03 billion, it slightly exceeded Wall Street's expectations. These better-than-expected results led to a significant jump in the stock price, with shares rising 11.2% on October 24, 2025.
2. The company introduced its "Beyond" strategy and provided a positive medium-term financial outlook at its Investor Day on November 6, 2025. Western Union projected revenue growth of 20% to reach $5 billion by 2028 and an increase in adjusted EPS of 30% to $2.30 by 2028. This digital-first strategy, aimed at expanding consumer services and leveraging its existing retail network, provided investors with a clear and optimistic vision for future growth.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| WU Return | -15% | -15% | -18% | -6% | -4% | -11% | -52% |
| Peers Return | 80% | -2% | -28% | 18% | 31% | -5% | 89% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| WU Win Rate | 50% | 50% | 50% | 67% | 42% | 30% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 63% | 55% | 38% | 55% | 65% | 58% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 70% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| WU Max Drawdown | -34% | -26% | -27% | -25% | -6% | -21% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -33% | -16% | -37% | -14% | -8% | -22% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: MA, V, AXP, PYPL, XYZ. See WU Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | WU | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -60.8% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 155.2% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -37.8% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 60.8% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -26.7% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 36.4% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 255 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -63.2% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 171.8% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 1480 days |
Compare to MA, V, AXP, PYPL, XYZ
In The Past
Western Union's stock fell -60.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 4/29/2021. A -60.8% loss requires a 155.2% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
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Asset Allocation
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Latest Trefis Analyses
| Title | Topic | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DASHBOARDS | |||
| How Low Can Western Union Stock Really Go? | Return | ||
| Western Union vs Interactive Brokers: Which Is A Better Investment? | Counter-Intuitive Comparisons | ||
| Better Bet Than WU Stock: Pay Less Than Western Union To Get More From CHTR, IBKR | |||
| Better Bet Than WU Stock: Pay Less Than Western Union To Get More From IBKR, JEF | |||
| Western Union (WU) Net Income Comparison | Financials | ||
| Western Union (WU) Debt Comparison | Financials | ||
| Western Union (WU) EBITDA Comparison | Financials | ||
| Western Union (WU) Operating Cash Flow Comparison | Financials | ||
| Western Union (WU) Tax Expense Comparison | Financials | ||
| Western Union (WU) Operating Income Comparison | Financials | ||
| ARTICLES | |||
| Stocks Trading At 52-Week Low | July 19th, 2025 | ||
| Stocks Trading At 52-Week Low | July 18th, 2025 |
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to WU. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | WU | Western Union | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 7.5% | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| 11212025 | COIN | Coinbase Global | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 15.2% | 15.2% | 0.0% |
| 11142025 | PYPL | PayPal | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -2.5% | -2.5% | -7.5% |
| 11142025 | V | Visa | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -0.1% | -0.1% | -2.7% |
| 11072025 | WD | Walker & Dunlop | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | -6.2% | -6.2% | -11.0% |
| 10312023 | WU | Western Union | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 23.5% | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| 04302022 | WU | Western Union | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -14.4% | -30.1% | -35.3% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | WU | Western Union | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 7.5% | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| 11212025 | COIN | Coinbase Global | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 15.2% | 15.2% | 0.0% |
| 11142025 | PYPL | PayPal | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -2.5% | -2.5% | -7.5% |
| 11142025 | V | Visa | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -0.1% | -0.1% | -2.7% |
| 11072025 | WD | Walker & Dunlop | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | -6.2% | -6.2% | -11.0% |
| 10312023 | WU | Western Union | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 23.5% | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| 04302022 | WU | Western Union | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | -14.4% | -30.1% | -35.3% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Western Union
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 195.43 |
| Mkt Cap | 156.5 |
| Rev LTM | 31,552 |
| Op Inc LTM | 6,296 |
| FCF LTM | 10,716 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 8,838 |
| CFO LTM | 11,690 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 9,769 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 6.8% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 11.3% |
| Rev Chg Q | 9.0% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 2.2% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 19.2% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 17.9% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | 0.3% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 24.8% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 24.1% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 21.9% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 21.5% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 156.5 |
| P/S | 2.6 |
| P/EBIT | 17.8 |
| P/E | 17.9 |
| P/CFO | 15.0 |
| Total Yield | 6.2% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.0% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 6.0% |
| D/E | 0.2 |
| Net D/E | 0.0 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | -1.3% |
| 3M Rtn | -6.2% |
| 6M Rtn | -4.6% |
| 12M Rtn | -1.1% |
| 3Y Rtn | 22.3% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | -1.2% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | -11.8% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | -19.3% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -15.9% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -43.2% |
Comparison Analyses
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Money Transfer | 4,005 | 3,994 | 4,394 | 4,220 | 4,408 |
| Consumer Services | 322 | 285 | 255 | 259 | 496 |
| Business Solutions | 30 | 197 | 422 | 356 | 389 |
| Total | 4,357 | 4,476 | 5,071 | 4,835 | 5,292 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Money Transfer | 751 | 765 | 978 | 925 | 975 |
| Consumer Services | 92 | 101 | 50 | 55 | 27 |
| Business Solutions | 4 | 58 | 96 | 24 | 47 |
| Redeployment program costs | -30 | -22 | |||
| Business Solutions exit costs | -8 | ||||
| Russia/Belarus exit costs | -10 | ||||
| Acquisition, separation, and integration costs | -37 | -116 | |||
| Total | 818 | 885 | 1,123 | 967 | 934 |
Returns Analyses
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 9302025 | 10272025 | 10-Q 9/30/2025 |
| 6302025 | 7282025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
| 3312025 | 4232025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2202025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
| 9302024 | 10232024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
| 6302024 | 7302024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
| 3312024 | 4242024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2222024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
| 9302023 | 10252023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
| 6302023 | 7262023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
| 3312023 | 5022023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
| 12312022 | 2232023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
| 9302022 | 11012022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
| 6302022 | 8032022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
| 3312022 | 4282022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
| 12312021 | 2242022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
External Quote Links
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| TradingView | Morningstar |
| SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
| Motley Fool | Robinhood |
| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |