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Western Union (WU) Strong on Digital Arm, Business Rejig
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At a time when remittance volumes across the globe have weakened due to COVID-19, Western Union Co. (WU - Free Report) is trying to stay afloat with investments in its digital platform and business streamlining.
The company’s revenues have been under pressure over the past many years due to rising competition. Grappled with this, it prioritized investment in its digital money transfer arm as a key strategy to achieve long-term growth.
In fact, substantial work done on the digital front enabled this payment processor to tide over the ongoing difficult operating conditions posed by COVID-19. In the first, second and third quarter of 2020, WU.com saw respective 15%, 45% and 47% growth in average monthly active customer base. Also the September quarter saw the Western Union app getting downloaded maximum number of times by its customers compared with its peers. The company’s digital business provides incremental growth and attractive economics.
The company is also trying to transform itself into a leaner and more agile organization, and to this end, it sold its Speedpay business to ACI Worldwidefor $750 million. It also disposed its Paymap mortgage payments services business. With divestitures and smaller domestic money transfers, the company’s business is now primarily focused on cross-border services for consumers, financial institutions, banks and other businesses. The company presently concentrates on its core competencies in foreign exchange, cross-border settlement, compliance and global retail and account payout network.
Western Union started implementing its new Global Strategy, designed to drive efficiency, profitability and long-term revenues. Its several initiatives target operational excellence and are expected to save approximately $50 million in 2020. The company also intends to achieve a three-year goal of $150 million in addition to providing surplus funds for reinvestment in business growth.
These strategic actions are likely to sustain the company amid a globally weak remittance market. At April-end, the World Bank issued a forecast projecting 20% decline in global remittances for 2020. This downside will weigh on the company’s overall revenues.
Notably, both Consumer-to-Consumer and Business Solutions segments are under pressure. Total revenues dipped 4.3% in the first nine months of 2020.
In six months’ time, the stock has lost 0.6% against the industry’s growth of 6.4%. However, other stocks in the same space including MoneyGram International Inc. , Square Inc. (SQ - Free Report) and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL - Free Report) have rallied 113.1%, 119.6% and 35.6%, respectively.
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
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Western Union (WU) Strong on Digital Arm, Business Rejig
At a time when remittance volumes across the globe have weakened due to COVID-19, Western Union Co. (WU - Free Report) is trying to stay afloat with investments in its digital platform and business streamlining.
The company’s revenues have been under pressure over the past many years due to rising competition. Grappled with this, it prioritized investment in its digital money transfer arm as a key strategy to achieve long-term growth.
In fact, substantial work done on the digital front enabled this payment processor to tide over the ongoing difficult operating conditions posed by COVID-19. In the first, second and third quarter of 2020, WU.com saw respective 15%, 45% and 47% growth in average monthly active customer base. Also the September quarter saw the Western Union app getting downloaded maximum number of times by its customers compared with its peers. The company’s digital business provides incremental growth and attractive economics.
The company is also trying to transform itself into a leaner and more agile organization, and to this end, it sold its Speedpay business to ACI Worldwidefor $750 million. It also disposed its Paymap mortgage payments services business. With divestitures and smaller domestic money transfers, the company’s business is now primarily focused on cross-border services for consumers, financial institutions, banks and other businesses. The company presently concentrates on its core competencies in foreign exchange, cross-border settlement, compliance and global retail and account payout network.
Western Union started implementing its new Global Strategy, designed to drive efficiency, profitability and long-term revenues. Its several initiatives target operational excellence and are expected to save approximately $50 million in 2020. The company also intends to achieve a three-year goal of $150 million in addition to providing surplus funds for reinvestment in business growth.
These strategic actions are likely to sustain the company amid a globally weak remittance market. At April-end, the World Bank issued a forecast projecting 20% decline in global remittances for 2020. This downside will weigh on the company’s overall revenues.
Notably, both Consumer-to-Consumer and Business Solutions segments are under pressure. Total revenues dipped 4.3% in the first nine months of 2020.
In six months’ time, the stock has lost 0.6% against the industry’s growth of 6.4%. However, other stocks in the same space including MoneyGram International Inc. , Square Inc. (SQ - Free Report) and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL - Free Report) have rallied 113.1%, 119.6% and 35.6%, respectively.
Western Union carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>