Western Union Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
The Western Union Company (the “Company” or “Western Union”) (NYSE: WU) today reported fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. The Company’s fourth-quarter revenue of $1.0 billi...
- Q4 GAAP revenue of $1.0 billion, down 5% on both a reported basis and an adjusted basis; full year GAAP revenue of $4.1 billion, down 4% on a reported basis, and 2% on an adjusted basis, excluding Iraq
- Q4 Consumer Services GAAP revenue grew 15%, or 26% on an adjusted basis; full year GAAP revenue grew 32%, or 29% on an adjusted basis
- Both Q4 and full year Branded Digital GAAP revenue grew 7%, or 6% on an adjusted basis
- Q4 GAAP EPS of $0.36 or adjusted EPS of $0.45; full year GAAP EPS of $1.52 or adjusted EPS of $1.75
- Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.235 per share in the first quarter of 2026
DENVER: The Western Union Company (the “Company” or “Western Union”) (NYSE: WU) today reported fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results.
The Company’s fourth-quarter revenue of $1.0 billion decreased 5% on both a reported and an adjusted basis. The change in revenue was largely driven by growth in our Consumer Services and Branded Digital businesses offset by a slowdown in the Americas retail business.
Fourth quarter GAAP EPS was $0.36, down from $1.13 in the prior year period, as the GAAP EPS in the prior year period was affected by a $0.75 tax benefit from the reorganization of the Company’s international operations. Adjusted EPS increased to $0.45 from $0.40 in the prior year period and benefited from higher adjusted operating profit and fewer shares outstanding.
“Despite a challenging operating environment in 2025, we delivered meaningful progress across the business,” said Devin McGranahan, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We strengthened our Consumer Services offerings, expanded our owned retail footprint, and accelerated our transition to a more digital-first operating model. Looking ahead to 2026, we are confident in our ability to execute against our Beyond strategy as we expand our capabilities, drive operating efficiencies, and position the company for sustainable long-term growth.”
Q4 Business Results
- Consumer Services segment revenue grew 15% on a reported basis, or 26% on an adjusted basis compared to the prior year period, driven by the expansion of our Travel Money business, which included the acquisition of Eurochange Limited, and higher revenues from our bill pay business.
- Branded Digital revenue increased 7% on a reported basis, and 6% on an adjusted basis, with transaction growth of 13% compared to the prior year period. The Branded Digital business represented 30% and 39% of total Consumer Money Transfer (“CMT”) revenues and transactions in the fourth quarter, respectively.
- CMT segment revenue and transactions decreased 7% and 2%, respectively, on a reported basis, and on an adjusted basis, revenues declined 9% compared to the prior year period.
Q4 Financial Results
- GAAP operating margin in the quarter was 18%, compared to 17% in the prior year period, while the adjusted operating margin was 20% compared to 17% in the prior year period. GAAP and adjusted operating margin benefited from improved cost efficiencies.
- The GAAP effective tax rate was a provision of 24% compared to the prior year's benefit of 161%. The prior year's GAAP effective tax rate was primarily impacted by the benefit related to recognition of deferred tax assets associated with the international reorganization. The adjusted effective tax rate was 12% in the current year and the prior year period.
2025 Full Year Financial Results
- The Company’s full year 2025 revenue of $4.1 billion declined 4% on a reported basis, and 2% on an adjusted basis, excluding Iraq.
- GAAP operating margin was 19%, compared to 17% in the prior year. The adjusted operating margin was 20% compared to 19% in the prior year. GAAP and adjusted operating margin benefited from improved cost efficiencies.
- The GAAP effective tax rate for 2025 was 20% compared to the prior year's benefit of 51%. The prior year's GAAP effective tax rate was primarily impacted by the tax benefits associated with reorganizing the Company’s international operations and a settlement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service regarding the Company’s 2017 and 2018 federal income tax returns, both occurring in 2024. The adjusted effective tax rate was 13% in the current year and the prior year.
- GAAP EPS was $1.52 compared to $2.74 in 2024. GAAP EPS in the prior year period included a $0.75 tax benefit from the reorganization of the Company’s international operations as well as a $0.40 benefit from the IRS Settlement in 2024. Adjusted EPS was $1.75 in the current year compared to $1.74 in the previous year.
- Cash flow from operating activities was $544 million for the year. In 2025, the Company returned approximately $529 million to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases, consisting of $305 million in dividends and $225 million in share repurchases.
Q1 Dividend
The Board of Directors approved the first quarter dividend of $0.235 per common share yesterday, payable March 31, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2026.
Business Development
On August 10, 2025, the company announced an agreement to acquire International Money Express, Inc. The Company now expects to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including remaining regulatory approvals.
2026 Outlook
The Company is providing the following financial outlook for full year 2026, which assumes no material changes in macroeconomic conditions, including changes in immigration policies, foreign currencies, or Argentina inflation.
| 2026 Outlook1 | |
| GAAP | Adjusted |
Revenue2 | 5% to 8% | 6% to 9% |
EPS3 | $1.50 to $1.60 | $1.75 to $1.85 |
1 | 2026 Outlook assumes Intermex deal closes in the second quarter | |
| 2 | Adjusted revenue growth excludes the impact of currency and Argentina inflation in quarters when hyperinflationary (over 50% within a quarter) | |
3 | The GAAP effective tax rate is expected to be 20% to 22% and the adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be 13% to 15% |
Non-GAAP Measures
Western Union presents non-GAAP financial measures because management believes that these metrics provide meaningful supplemental information in addition to the GAAP metrics and provide comparability and consistency to prior periods. Constant currency revenues translate revenues denominated in foreign currencies to the United States dollar, net of the effect of foreign currency hedges, at rates consistent with those in the prior year. The Company calculates Argentina inflation as the revenue growth not attributable to either transaction growth or the change in price (revenue divided by principal).
Reconciliations of non-GAAP to comparable GAAP measures are available in the accompanying schedules and in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at https://ir.westernunion.com.
Additional Statistics
Additional key statistics for the quarter and historical trends can be found in the supplemental tables included with this press release. All amounts included in the supplemental tables to this press release are rounded to the nearest tenth of a million, except as otherwise noted. As a result, the percentage changes and margins disclosed herein may not recalculate precisely using the rounded amounts provided.
Investor and Analyst Conference Call and Presentation
The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today.
The webcast and presentation will be available at https://ir.westernunion.com. Registration for the event is required, so please register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A webcast replay will be available shortly after the event.
To listen to the webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website or use the following link: Webcast Link. Alternatively, participants may join via telephone. In the U.S., dial +1 (719) 359-4580, followed by the meeting ID, which is 955 3122 8825, and the passcode, which is 948891. For participants outside the U.S., dial the country number from the international directory, followed by the meeting ID, which is 955 3122 8825, and the passcode, which is 948891.
Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “targets,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “guides,” “provides guidance,” “provides outlook,” “projects,” “designed to,” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” and “might” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers of this press release of The Western Union Company (the “Company,” “Western Union,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the following: changes in economic conditions, trade disruptions, or significantly slower growth or declines in the money transfer, payment service, and other markets in which we operate; interruptions in migration patterns, slowdown in travel, or other events, such as public health emergencies, any changes arising as a result of policy changes in the United States and/or other key markets, civil unrest, war, terrorism, natural disasters, or non-performance by our banks, lenders, insurers, or other financial services providers; failure to compete effectively in the money transfer and payment service industry, including among other things, with respect to digital, mobile and internet-based services, card associations, and card-based payment providers, and with digital currencies, including cryptocurrencies; geopolitical tensions, political conditions, armed conflicts or wars, and related actions, including trade restrictions, tariffs, and government sanctions; deterioration in customer confidence in our business; failure to maintain our agent network and business relationships; our ability to adopt new technology; the development, deployment, and use of AI, machine learning, and automated decision-making technologies in our operations, including risks or unintended outcomes; the failure to realize anticipated financial benefits from mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; decisions to change our business mix; exposure to foreign exchange rates; changes in tax laws, or their interpretation, and unfavorable resolution of tax contingencies; cybersecurity incidents involving any of our systems or those of our vendors or other third parties; cessation of or defects in various services provided to us by third-party vendors; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from restructuring-related initiatives; our ability to attract and retain qualified key employees; failure to manage credit and fraud risks presented by our agents, clients, and consumers; adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and to defend ourselves against potential intellectual property infringement claims; material changes in the market value or liquidity of securities that we hold; restrictions imposed by our debt obligations; liabilities or loss of business resulting from a failure by us, our agents, or their subagents to comply with laws and regulations and regulatory or judicial interpretations thereof; increased costs or loss of business due to regulatory initiatives and changes in laws, regulations, and industry practices and standards; developments resulting from governmental investigations and consent agreements with, or investigations or enforcement actions by, regulators and other government authorities; liabilities resulting from litigation; failure to comply with regulations and evolving industry standards regarding data privacy; failure to comply with consumer protection laws; effects of unclaimed property laws or their interpretation or the enforcement thereof; failure to comply with working capital requirements; changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations; and other unanticipated events and management’s ability to identify and manage these and other risks.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments-across more than 200 countries and territories and nearly 130 currencies-to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
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| THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
2025 |
| 2024 |
| % Change |
| 2025 |
| 2024 |
| % Change | ||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 1,008.4 |
| $ | 1,058.2 |
| (5) | % | $ | 4,050.7 |
| $ | 4,209.7 |
| (4) | % | ||||||
| Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of services | 645.4 |
| 661.7 |
| (2) | % | 2,550.6 |
| 2,620.5 |
| (3) | % | ||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative | 177.7 |
| 218.4 |
| (19) | % | 742.8 |
| 863.4 |
| (14) | % | ||||||||||
| Total expenses | 823.1 |
| 880.1 |
| (6) | % | 3,293.4 |
| 3,483.9 |
| (5) | % | ||||||||||
| Operating income | 185.3 |
| 178.1 |
| 4 | % | 757.3 |
| 725.8 |
| 4 | % | ||||||||||
| Other income/(expense): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 2.0 |
| 2.3 |
| (10) | % | 7.9 |
| 11.9 |
| (33) | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (36.7 | ) | (30.4 | ) | 21 | % | (143.0 | ) | (119.8 | ) | 19 | % | ||||||||||
| Other income, net | 0.5 |
| (2.3 | ) | (a) | 3.5 |
| 0.7 |
| (a) | ||||||||||||
| Total other expense, net | (34.2 | ) | (30.4 | ) | 12 | % | (131.6 | ) | (107.2 | ) | 23 | % | ||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 151.1 |
| 147.7 |
| 2 | % | 625.7 |
| 618.6 |
| 1 | % | ||||||||||
| Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes | 36.7 |
| (238.0 | ) | (a) | 126.1 |
| (315.6 | ) | (a) | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 114.4 |
| $ | 385.7 |
| (70) | % | $ | 499.6 |
| $ | 934.2 |
| (47) | % | ||||||
| Earnings per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.36 |
| $ | 1.14 |
| (68) | % | $ | 1.53 |
| $ | 2.75 |
| (44) | % | ||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.36 |
| $ | 1.13 |
| (68) | % | $ | 1.52 |
| $ | 2.74 |
| (45) | % | ||||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 317.6 |
| 338.4 |
| 326.6 |
| 340.0 |
| ||||||||||||||
| Diluted |
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