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Global Payments Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted net revenue up 34%: Adjusted net revenue rose 33.8% to $3.16 billion. On a normalized basis it rose about 4%. Source
  • GAAP revenue higher, GAAP EPS lower: GAAP revenue was $3.32 billion, up 68.6%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.05 against $0.99 a year earlier. Source
  • Discontinued operations reported separately: Discontinued operations recorded a loss of $(0.38) per diluted share, against $(0.04) a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin expanded 70 basis points: On a normalized basis, adjusted operating margin rose 70 basis points to 42.0%. Adjusted operating income was $1.33 billion, up 25.9%. Source
  • $1.2 billion returned year to date: The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders year to date, which management said exceeds 50% of the 2026 plan. Source
  • First full quarter as pure-play: Management said the quarter was the first full quarter operating as a pure-play commerce solutions provider, after the Worldpay acquisition and Issuer Solutions sale. Source
  • Worldpay integration progressing: Bready said he was particularly pleased with progress on integrating Worldpay, combining complementary capabilities to serve clients and partners globally. Source

“We delivered solid second quarter results that were consistent with our expectations, reflecting the resilience of our business model amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East”

Cameron Bready, chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Normalized constant currency adjusted net revenue growth SourceFull year 2026approximately 4% - 5%Lowered from approximately 5%
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$13.60 - $13.80Lowered from $13.80 to $14.00
Normalized adjusted operating margin expansion SourceFull year 2026approximately 150 basis pointsKept
Capital returned to shareholders SourceFull year 2026more than $2 billionKept
Constant currency adjusted net revenue growth, reported basis SourceFull year 20262% to 3%Lowered from 3.5%
Constant currency adjusted EPS growth SourceFull year 202611% to 13%Lowered from 13% to 15%
GAAP revenue growth SourceFull year 202670% to 71%Lowered from ~73%
GAAP diluted EPS growth SourceFull year 2026(185)% to (187)%Lowered from (68)% to (70)%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year guidance for normalized revenue growth, adjusted EPS and constant currency EPS growth was lowered, citing the Middle East conflict's effect on the travel portfolio. Source
  • Guidance kept: Normalized adjusted operating margin expansion and the 2026 capital return plan were kept unchanged. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Adjusted net revenue up 34%: Adjusted net revenue rose 33.8% to $3.16 billion. On a normalized basis it rose about 4%. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 11.7%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.46 against $3.10 a year earlier, up 11.7%. Source
  • GAAP revenue higher, GAAP EPS lower: GAAP revenue was $3.32 billion, up 68.6%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.05 against $0.99 a year earlier. Source
  • Discontinued operations reported separately: Discontinued operations recorded a loss of $(0.38) per diluted share, against $(0.04) a year earlier. Source

Segment results

  • Enterprise and Platforms revenue up: Enterprise adjusted revenue was $838.1 million against $147.5 million, and Platforms adjusted revenue was $627.5 million against $221.1 million. Source
  • SMB revenue and operating income: SMB adjusted revenue was $1,512.6 million, up 18.5%, and SMB adjusted operating income was $891.2 million, up 7.4%. Source
  • Enterprise and Platforms operating income: Enterprise adjusted operating income was $652.8 million against $113.4 million; Platforms was $283.6 million against $133.6 million. Source
  • Other revenues and Issuer Solutions: Other revenues were $180.8 million, down 9.3%. Prior-year adjusted figures included $535.7 million of Issuer Solutions revenue before the sale. Source

“Our performance further validates the importance of our scale and distribution and our ability to deliver sustainable growth, margin expansion, and free cash flow.”

Josh Whipple, chief financial officer

Products, Genius and AI

  • Genius adoption accelerating: Management said Genius adoption is accelerating and gaining momentum across the markets the company serves. The release gives no client or unit counts. Source
  • AI applied across the ecosystem: Management said it uses AI across its ecosystem to improve solutions, client experiences and operating efficiency. Source
  • Feature-rich products and service differentiation: Bready said differentiation comes from feature-rich products, distinctive service experiences and commercial excellence. Source

Costs, margins and interest

  • Adjusted operating margin expanded 70 basis points: On a normalized basis, adjusted operating margin rose 70 basis points to 42.0%. Adjusted operating income was $1.33 billion, up 25.9%. Source
  • Acquired-intangible amortization excluded: Adjustments of $993.6 million to operating income in the quarter included $757.6 million of amortization of acquired intangibles in cost of service. Source
  • Interest and other expense rose: Interest and other expense was $277.5 million, up 81.9%, against interest and other income of $44.7 million. Source

“Through consistent execution and a sharp focus on commercial excellence, we continue to capitalize on growth opportunities”

Cameron Bready, chief executive officer

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $1.2 billion returned year to date: The company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders year to date, which management said exceeds 50% of the 2026 plan. Source
  • Repurchases of common stock rose: Repurchases of common stock totalled $1.10 billion for the six months, against $691.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose: Capital expenditures were $497.0 million for the six months, against $279.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell in quarter: Shares outstanding were 265.9 million at June 30, down from 273.4 million at March 31, 2026. Source

Worldpay integration and portfolio

  • First full quarter as pure-play: Management said the quarter was the first full quarter operating as a pure-play commerce solutions provider, after the Worldpay acquisition and Issuer Solutions sale. Source
  • Worldpay integration progressing: Bready said he was particularly pleased with progress on integrating Worldpay, combining complementary capabilities to serve clients and partners globally. Source
  • Transformation and termination charges: Business transformation charges were $40.1 million and employee termination benefits were $25.3 million in the quarter, excluded from adjusted measures. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Dividend payable September 25: The board approved a $0.25 per share dividend, payable September 25, 2026 to holders of record as of September 11, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited the ongoing Middle East conflict and its effect on the travel portfolio as the reason for revised full-year guidance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track to return about $7.5 billion of capital over the 2025 to 2027 period. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.