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Western Union Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 1% to $1.0 billion: Revenue was $1,013.2 million against $1,026.1 million a year earlier, down 1% on both GAAP and adjusted bases. Six-month revenue was $1,995.9 million, down 1%. Source
  • Operating income and EPS fell: Operating income was $132.1 million, down 31%, and net income was $76.7 million, down 37%. Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.24 against $0.37; adjusted EPS was $0.31 against $0.42. Source
  • CMT revenue down 2%, transactions up 3%: Consumer Money Transfer revenue was $866.1 million, down 2% GAAP and 3% adjusted. Transactions rose 3% to 73.5 million while revenue fell. Source
  • CMT segment profit fell 25%: CMT segment operating income was $125.7 million, down 25%, with margin at 15% against 19%. Six-month CMT segment operating income fell 28%. Source
  • Branded Digital transactions up 25%: Branded Digital revenue rose 7% on a GAAP basis and 6% adjusted. Transactions grew 25%, well ahead of revenue growth. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 13%: GAAP operating margin was 13% against 19% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 15% against 19%. Source
  • Americas retail slowdown drove revenue: Management said the change in adjusted revenue was mainly a slowdown in Americas retail, offset by growth in Consumer Services and Branded Digital. Source
  • Intermex delay pushed out synergies: Management said the delayed close of Intermex pushed out expected synergies, adding to margin pressure and lower-than-expected EPS in the quarter. Source

“In the second quarter, we did not see the improvement in Americas Retail that we had expected”

Devin McGranahan, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth, GAAP Sourcefull year 20263% to 5%Lowered from 5% to 8%
Revenue growth, adjusted Sourcefull year 20264% to 6%Lowered from 6% to 9%
EPS, adjusted Sourcefull year 2026$1.25 to $1.35Lowered from $1.75 to $1.85
Effective tax rate, GAAP Sourcefull year 202620% to 22%Kept
Effective tax rate, adjusted Sourcefull year 202613% to 15%Kept
Foreign currency translation impact on revenue Sourcefull year 20261%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: GAAP revenue growth range for 2026 cut to 3% to 5% from 5% to 8%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted revenue growth range for 2026 cut to 4% to 6% from 6% to 9%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS range for 2026 cut to $1.25 to $1.35 from $1.75 to $1.85. Source
  • Guidance withdrawn: GAAP EPS range of $1.50 to $1.60 is no longer given; 2026 GAAP EPS is shown as NA. Source
  • Guidance kept: GAAP effective tax rate range of 20% to 22% and adjusted range of 13% to 15% are kept. Source
  • New: 2026 guidance now models the Intermex close on September 1, 2026. The first-quarter release had assumed a close in the second quarter. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 1% to $1.0 billion: Revenue was $1,013.2 million against $1,026.1 million a year earlier, down 1% on both GAAP and adjusted bases. Six-month revenue was $1,995.9 million, down 1%. Source
  • Operating income and EPS fell: Operating income was $132.1 million, down 31%, and net income was $76.7 million, down 37%. Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.24 against $0.37; adjusted EPS was $0.31 against $0.42. Source
  • Six-month EPS and operating income lower: For the six months, diluted EPS was $0.45 against $0.73, down 38%. Operating income was $255.1 million against $370.1 million, down 31%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined: Adjusted EBITDA was $204.0 million against $251.0 million a year earlier. Six-month adjusted EBITDA was $387.5 million against $387.5 million? See table: $183.5 million in the first quarter plus second quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • CMT revenue down 2%, transactions up 3%: Consumer Money Transfer revenue was $866.1 million, down 2% GAAP and 3% adjusted. Transactions rose 3% to 73.5 million while revenue fell. Source
  • CMT segment profit fell 25%: CMT segment operating income was $125.7 million, down 25%, with margin at 15% against 19%. Six-month CMT segment operating income fell 28%. Source
  • Consumer Services revenue up 4%: Consumer Services revenue was $147.1 million, up 4% GAAP and 12% adjusted, from bill payment and travel money. Segment operating margin was 16% against 22%. Source
  • North America down, MEASA up: North America revenue fell 9% and transactions fell 5%. Middle East, Africa and South Asia revenue rose 13%, with transactions up 44%. Source
  • Latin America and Asia Pacific declined: Latin America and the Caribbean transactions fell 10%, with revenue down 4%. Asia Pacific revenue fell 7% while transactions rose 1%. Source
  • Europe and CIS flat on revenue: EU and CIS revenue was flat on a GAAP basis and down 2% adjusted, with transactions down 2%. Source

“This difficult operating environment requires us to accelerate cost reductions more forcefully in the second half of the year”

Devin McGranahan, President and Chief Executive Officer

Branded Digital and customers

  • Branded Digital transactions up 25%: Branded Digital revenue rose 7% on a GAAP basis and 6% adjusted. Transactions grew 25%, well ahead of revenue growth. Source
  • Digital share of CMT business: Branded Digital represented 32% of CMT revenue and 43% of CMT transactions in the second quarter. Source
  • Currency and Argentina effect on digital: Foreign currency translation and Argentina hyperinflation reduced Branded Digital revenue growth by 1 point in the quarter, to 6% adjusted growth. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Operating margin fell to 13%: GAAP operating margin was 13% against 19% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 15% against 19%. Source
  • Cost of services and SG&A rose: Cost of services was $676.7 million, up 5%. Selling, general and administrative expense was $204.4 million, up 7%. Total expenses rose 6% to $881.1 million. Source
  • Margin drivers named by management: Management attributed the margin change to lower revenue and higher expense in CMT retail, lower Consumer Services margins, and higher operating expenses. Source
  • Severance and deal costs rose: Severance costs were $8.9 million against $3.5 million. Acquisition, separation and integration costs were $4.8 million against $1.4 million. Source
  • Tax rates lower than last year: GAAP effective tax rate was 20% against 24%, and adjusted 14% against 16%. Management attributed the decrease to discrete expenses in the prior-year period. Source

Demand and Americas retail

  • Americas retail slowdown drove revenue: Management said the change in adjusted revenue was mainly a slowdown in Americas retail, offset by growth in Consumer Services and Branded Digital. Source
  • Iraq revenue higher than a year ago: Revenue from transactions originating in Iraq was $10.3 million, against $4.7 million a year earlier. Adjusted revenue excluding Iraq fell 2%. Source
  • Cross-border principal up 2%: Cross-border principal was $27.2 billion, up 2% as reported and 1% at constant currency, against $26.7 billion a year earlier. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow and capex rose: Six-month operating cash flow was $213.9 million against $147.9 million. Capital expenditures were $88.2 million against $53.4 million. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends lower: Six-month share repurchases were $64.0 million against $156.2 million. Dividends paid were $152.8 million against $159.1 million. Source
  • Borrowings reduced since year-end: Borrowings were $2,697.2 million at June 30, 2026, against $2,877.8 million at December 31, 2025. The company repaid $600.0 million of principal in the six months. Source
  • Cash balance below year-end: Balance sheet cash and cash equivalents were $919.8 million at June 30, 2026, against $1,234.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted-average shares were 313.6 million in the quarter against 329.6 million. Shares outstanding were 311.8 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Intermex deal and strategy

  • Intermex delay pushed out synergies: Management said the delayed close of Intermex pushed out expected synergies, adding to margin pressure and lower-than-expected EPS in the quarter. Source
  • New York approval still pending: The company is still in discussions with regulators, including the New York State Department of Financial Services, to obtain final approval of the Intermex deal. Source
  • Dual-track strategy continues: Management said it is keeping a dual track: reducing operating expenses faster while investing in digital products and consumer services. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Intermex close after New York approval: The company anticipates closing the Intermex transaction as soon as reasonably practicable after regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions are satisfied. Source
  • Guidance models September 1 close: The 2026 guidance assumes the Intermex deal closes on September 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
CMT transactions (millions) Source73.5
Branded Digital transaction growth Source25%
Branded Digital share of CMT transactions Source43%
Cross-border principal (billions) Source$27.2

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Americas retail slowdown reduced adjusted revenue in the quarter, offsetting growth in Consumer Services and Branded Digital. Source
  • Operational: Lower revenue and higher expense in CMT retail, lower Consumer Services margins and higher operating expenses reduced operating margin. Source
  • Operational: Intermex integration synergies were pushed out by the delayed close, contributing to margin pressure and lower EPS. Source
  • Regulatory: Completion of the Intermex deal depends on final regulatory approval from New York State regulators, which was still being pursued. Source
  • External: The 2026 guidance assumes no material change in macroeconomic conditions, immigration policy, currencies, Argentina inflation or Middle East conflicts. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Delayed: The first-quarter release expected the Intermex close in the second quarter of 2026. The second-quarter release calls the close delayed.
  • Missed: Management had expected Americas Retail to improve; the company says the improvement did not appear in the second quarter. Source
  • On track: Management said second-quarter revenue was in line with its expectations, while margin and EPS were lower. 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.