Gain detailed insights into the trading activity of Congress members for Western Union on our government trades page. Stay updated on how elected officials are investing in WU.

Western Union - Government Trades

Western Union

Western Union provides domestic and international money transfers through its global network of about 600,000 outside agents. The company handled over 270 million transactions in 2023 and is the largest money transfer company in the world.

The Western Union

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During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the financial sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 8.74%</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintained an Underweight rating and cut the price target from $11 to $10 on Dec. 13. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Sanjay Sakhrani maintained a Market Perform rating and lowered the price target from $13 to $12 on Dec. 9. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Friday, Western Union announced a new $1 billion share repurchase program.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest WU news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="912" height="842" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095642/image-130.png" alt="" class="wp-image-694057" style="width:651px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095642/image-130.png 912w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095642/image-130-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095642/image-130-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ladder Capital Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LADR#NYSE">LADR</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 7.77%</li>
<li>JMP Securities analyst Steven Delaney reiterated a Market Outperform rating with a price target of $13.5 on Aug. 30. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Jade Rahmani maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $12.5 to $13 on July 30. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Oct. 24, the company posted mixed quarterly results.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> latest LADR news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="895" height="837" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095730/image-131.png" alt="" class="wp-image-694061" style="width:556px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095730/image-131.png 895w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095730/image-131-300x281.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095730/image-131-768x718.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">OneMain Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OMF#NYSE">OMF</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 7.47%</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $56 to $59 on Dec. 9. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Kyle Joseph initiated coverage on the stock with an Overweight rating and a price target of $57 on Nov. 13. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Oct. 30, OneMain reported better-than-expected third-quarter adjusted EPS results.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> trend in OMF stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="918" height="847" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095803/image-132.png" alt="" class="wp-image-694064" style="width:645px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095803/image-132.png 918w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095803/image-132-300x277.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16095803/image-132-768x709.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 918px) 100vw, 918px" /></a></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42507587/tesla-to-rally-around-18-here-are-10-top-analyst-forecasts-for-monday">Tesla To Rally Around 18%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Monday</a></li>
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Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Financial Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Monday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Zedge, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZDGE#NYSE">ZDGE</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 3 cents per share on revenue of $7.28 million before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Zedge shares gained 2.6% to $2.7999 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMP#NYSE">CMP</a>) to post a quarterly loss at 45 cents per share on revenue of $209 million after the closing bell. Compass Minerals International shares gained 4.8% to $13.69 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>The Western Union Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NASDAQ">WU</a>) announced a new $1 billion share repurchase program. Western Union shares gained 1.7% to $10.94 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>After the closing bell, Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITK#NASDAQ">MITK</a>) is projected to post quarterly earnings at 17 cents per share on revenue of $41.31 million. Mitek Systems shares gained 1.4% to $8.90 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RICK#NASDAQ">RICK</a>) to earn 37 cents per share on revenue of $72.98 million for the latest quarter. The company will release earnings after the markets close. RCI Hospitality shares gained 1.5% to $52.85 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42482639/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-give-their-take-on-3-energy-stocks-with-over-6-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Energy Stocks With Over 6% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>

WIIM

Western Union shares are trading higher after the company announced a new $1 billion share repurchase program.

The Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a new $1 billion authorization for the Company to repurchase its common stock and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.235 per common share. The dividend will be payable December 31, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2024.

Buybacks

Western Union Announces New $1B Share Repurchase Program

Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintains Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $11 to $10.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Western Union, Lowers Price Target to $10

Western Union's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.02% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 19.97 million shares sold short, which is 7.7% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.18 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Western Union Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733777115_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Western Union has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Western Union's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Western Union's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.67%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

How Is The Market Feeling About Western Union?

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Sanjay Sakhrani maintains Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) with a Market Perform and lowers the price target from $13 to $12.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Market Perform on Western Union, Lowers Price Target to $12

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$40.1K</td>
<td>45.0K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$501.0K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$278.1K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
<td>$76.7K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$12.50</td>
<td>$130.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RKT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$16.50</td>
<td>$79.3K</td>
<td>246</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/08/24</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$32.3K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>841</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/08/24</td>
<td>$44.50</td>
<td>$62.0K</td>
<td>107</td>
<td>805</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/08/24</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$57.5K</td>
<td>624</td>
<td>612</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>310</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 451 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.1K, with a price of $89.0 per contract. There were 45098 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4686 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 137 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 3000 contract(s) at a $72.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $501.0K, with a price of $167.0 per contract. There were 3283 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3052 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 11 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2417 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 53 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $278.1K, with a price of $115.0 per contract. There were 7339 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2459 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 137 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1784 contract(s) at a $16.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $76.7K, with a price of $43.0 per contract. There were 4156 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2025 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PMT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PMT#NYSE">PMT</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 164 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2000 contract(s) at a $12.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $130.0K, with a price of $65.0 per contract. There were 2081 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2003 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RKT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 882 contract(s) at a $16.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 38 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $79.3K, with a price of $90.0 per contract. There were 246 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1021 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on November 8, 2024. This event was a transfer of 44 contract(s) at a $185.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.3K, with a price of $735.0 per contract. There were 2338 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 841 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on November 8, 2024. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $44.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.0K, with a price of $310.0 per contract. There were 107 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 805 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on November 8, 2024. Parties traded 92 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.5K, with a price of $625.0 per contract. There were 624 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 612 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FUTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 46 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $875.0 per contract. There were 1337 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 310 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

FUTU

UPST

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

The most oversold stocks in the financials sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered oversold when the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi"> RSI is below 30</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Here's the latest list of major oversold players in this sector, having an RSI near or below 30.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Western Union Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Oct. 23, Western Unio posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings. &#8220;We are pleased with third quarter results, which demonstrate continued progress of our Evolve 2025 strategy,&#8221; said Devin McGranahan, President and Chief Executive Officer. &#8220;We&#8217;ve maintained mid-single digit transaction growth in our Consumer Money Transfer business for five quarters in a row and are now seeing the effect on revenue, with positive adjusted consolidated revenue growth for two consecutive quarters, excluding Iraq.&#8221; The company's stock fell around 8% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WU">52-week low of $10.69</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 27.25&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>WU Price Action: Shares of Western Union fell 0.2% to close at $10.74 on Friday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">lerted to latest WU news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="911" height="837" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005118/image-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-627101" style="width:624px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005118/image-6.png 911w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005118/image-6-300x276.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005118/image-6-768x706.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AGNC Investment Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGNC#NASDAQ">AGNC</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Oct. 31, AGNC Investment posted third-quarter comprehensive income per common share of 63 cents. &#8220;AGNC generated a very strong economic return of 9.3% in the third quarter, driven by significant book value growth and our compelling monthly dividend, which has remained stable at $0.12 per common share for 55 consecutive months&#8221; said Peter Federico, the Company&#8217;s President and Chief Executive Officer. &#8221; The company's stock fell around 7% over the past five days and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AGNC"> has a 52-week low</a> of $7.85.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 25.31</li>
<li>AGNC Price Action: Shares of AGNC Investment closed at $9.31 on Friday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">trend in AGNC stock.</a> </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="918" height="841" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005308/image-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-627104" style="width:598px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005308/image-7.png 918w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005308/image-7-300x275.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005308/image-7-768x704.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 918px) 100vw, 918px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Essent Group Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESNT#NYSE">ESNT</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Nov. 1, Essent Group reported worse-than-expected third-quarter EPS and revenues. &#8220;We are pleased with our third quarter financial results, as we continue to generate high quality earnings,&#8221; said Mark A. Casale, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The company's stock fell around 15% over the past month and has a 52-week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ESNT">low of $47.37</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 18.57</li>
<li>ESNT Price Action: Shares of Essent Group fell 10.4% to close at $53.77 on Friday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">breakout in ESNT shares</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="901" height="410" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005416/image-8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-627105" style="width:677px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005416/image-8.png 901w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005416/image-8-300x137.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005416/image-8-768x349.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 901px) 100vw, 901px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UWM Holdings Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UWMC#NYSE">UWMC</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>UWM Holdings will announce its third quarter results on Thursday, Nov. 7. The company's shares lost around 20% over the past month. The company's 52-week low is $5.01.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 20.90</li>
<li>UWMC Price Action: Shares of UWM Holdings fell 2.3% to close at $6.29 on Friday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's earnings calendar was used to track upcoming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">UWMC earnings reports</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent110424&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="917" height="533" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005456/image-9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-627106" style="width:650px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005456/image-9.png 917w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005456/image-9-300x174.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04005456/image-9-768x446.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 917px) 100vw, 917px" /></a></figure>
Read More:
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<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/11/41684497/jim-cramer-likes-cava-group-calls-this-utilities-stock-terrific">Jim Cramer Likes Cava Group, Calls This Utilities Stock &#8216;Terrific&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Western Union's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) short percent of float has risen 4.26% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 21.61 million shares sold short, which is 8.33% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.25 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Western Union Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1730298614_0_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Western Union has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Western Union's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Western Union's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.26%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Western Union's Recent Short Interest

UBS analyst Timothy Chiodo maintains Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $13.5 to $12.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Western Union, Lowers Price Target to $12

Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) affirms FY2024 Adj EPS guidance from $1.70-1.80 to $1.70-1.80 vs $1.76 analyst estimate. Affirms FY2024 sales outlook from $4.15 billion-4.22 billion to $4.15 billion-4.22 billion vs $undefined estimate.

Guidance

Western Union Affirms FY2024 Adj EPS Guidance from $1.70-1.80 to $1.70-1.80 vs $1.76 Est; Affirms FY2024 Sales Guidance from $4.15B-4.22B to $4.15B-4.22B vs (Est. $4.178B)

Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.44 by 4.55 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.036 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.029 billion by 0.68 percent. This is a 5.65 percent decrease over sales of $1.098 billion the same period last year.

Western Union Q3 2024 Adj. EPS $0.46 Beats $0.44 Estimate, Sales $1.036B Beat $1.029B Estimate

Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) is preparing to release its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, 2024-10-23. Here's a brief overview of what investors should keep in mind before the announcement.
Analysts expect Western Union to report an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.44.
Investors in Western Union are eagerly awaiting the company's announcement, hoping for news of surpassing estimates and positive guidance for the next quarter.
It's worth noting for new investors that stock prices can be heavily influenced by future projections rather than just past performance.
<h3>Overview of Past Earnings</h3>
The company's EPS missed by $0.01 in the last quarter, leading to a 8.33% drop in the share price on the following day.
Here's a look at Western Union's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
<th>Q1 2024</th>
<th>Q4 2023</th>
<th>Q3 2023</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>0.45</td>
<td>0.41</td>
<td>0.37</td>
<td>0.39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>0.44</td>
<td>0.45</td>
<td>0.37</td>
<td>0.43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>-8.0%</td>
<td>-2.0%</td>
<td>-6.0%</td>
<td>-10.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1729623776_0.png" alt="eps graph" />
<h3>Stock Performance</h3>
Shares of Western Union were trading at $11.59 as of October 21. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 10.36%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely upset going into this earnings release. 
<h3>Analyst Insights on Western Union</h3>
For investors, grasping market sentiments and expectations in the industry is vital. This analysis explores the latest insights regarding Western Union.
With 2 analyst ratings, Western Union has a consensus rating of Neutral. The average one-year price target is $13.0, indicating a potential 12.17% upside.
<h3>Peer Ratings Comparison</h3>
In this comparison, we explore the analyst ratings and average 1-year price targets of Euronet Worldwide, StoneCo and Payoneer Global, three prominent industry players, offering insights into their relative performance expectations and market positioning.
<ul>
<li>Euronet Worldwide is maintaining an Buy status according to analysts, with an average 1-year price target of $123.0, indicating a potential 961.26% upside.</li>
<li>As per analysts' assessments, StoneCo is favoring an Neutral trajectory, with an average 1-year price target of $13.0, suggesting a potential 12.17% upside.</li>
<li>The consensus outlook from analysts is an Buy trajectory for Payoneer Global, with an average 1-year price target of $9.06, indicating a potential 21.83% downside.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Overview of Peer Analysis</h3>
The peer analysis summary outlines pivotal metrics for Euronet Worldwide, StoneCo and Payoneer Global, demonstrating their respective standings within the industry and offering valuable insights into their market positions and comparative performance.

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Consensus</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
<th>Gross Profit</th>
<th>Return on Equity</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Western Union</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-8.85%</td>
<td>$402.50M</td>
<td>33.62%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Euronet Worldwide</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>5.02%</td>
<td>$405.40M</td>
<td>6.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>StoneCo</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>11.86%</td>
<td>$2.25B</td>
<td>3.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Payoneer Global</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>15.86%</td>
<td>$202.56M</td>
<td>4.87%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Key Takeaway:
Western Union is positioned in the middle among its peers for revenue growth. It ranks at the top for gross profit. In terms of return on equity, it is also positioned in the middle.
<h3>Delving into Western Union's Background</h3>
Western Union provides domestic and international money transfers through its global network of about 600,000 outside agents. The company handled over 270 million transactions in 2023 and is the largest money transfer company in the world.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Western Union's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Challenges: Western Union's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 30 June, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -8.85%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Western Union's net margin lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 13.22%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Western Union's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 33.62%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 1.76%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: With a high debt-to-equity ratio of 5.98, Western Union faces challenges in effectively managing its debt levels, indicating potential financial strain.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WU/earnings">To track all earnings releases for Western Union visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Earnings Outlook For Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wu#NYSE">WU</a>) inked a deal with the Open Finance company, Khipu, enabling customers to transfer money digitally using any bank account in Chile.
The agreement incorporates Khipu&#39;s technology into Western Union&#39;s mobile app and website. Earlier, customers paying through a bank account had to leave the Western Union app or website and log into their bank&#39;s platform to complete the payment. This step is now removed as a result of the latest integration, allowing the entire transaction to be completed within the Western Union platform. The service is now available via the Western Union Chile app and website.
Western Union has also introduced a special promotion offer with a $0 fee for the first remittance made using the &quot;Online Bank Transfer&quot; option, thereby encouraging customers to explore the new service. The collaboration between WU and Khipu makes sure that cross-border payments can be made faster and more seamlessly by Chile&#39;s customers.
<h2>Benefits of the Recent Move to Western Union</h2>
The recent initiative reflects Western Union&#39;s sincere efforts to establish a solid footprint across the Chilean remittance market.&nbsp;
Moves similar to the latest one are indicative of Western Union&#39;s efforts to align with its global digital expansion strategy, designed to attract more customers through its diverse service offerings. Speedier money transfers brought about by integrating Khipu&#39;s technology into the WU platform are likely to result in the increased usage of its money transfer services. This move is likely to further boost the company&#39;s digital money transfer revenues in the days ahead.
Strategic partnerships with financial service providers and significant investments have enabled Western Union to develop a robust digital platform. This platform&#39;s strength has made it a preferred partner for efficient global money transfers and advancing digitization in underserved regions.
<h2>Western Union&#39;s Stock Price Performance</h2>
Shares of Western Union have dipped 0.7% year to date against the industry&#39;s 8.8% growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/af/80259.jpg?v=1602165044" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>WU&#39;s Zacks Rank &amp; Other Stocks to Consider</h2>
WU currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).&nbsp;
Some other top-ranked stocks in the Business Services space are Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/duol#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>), RCM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rcmt#NASDAQ">RCMT</a>) and AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/app#NASDAQ">APP</a>), each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
The bottom line of Duolingo outpaced estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 92.09%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DUOL&#39;s 2024 earnings is pegged at $1.87 per share, which indicates a more than five-fold increase from the year-ago figure. The consensus mark for revenues implies growth of 38.6% from the year-ago number. The consensus mark for DUOL&#39;s 2024 earnings has moved 7.5% north in the past 60 days.&nbsp;
RCM Technologies&#39; earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and matched the mark once, the average surprise being 17.49%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCMT&#39;s 2024 earnings indicates an improvement of 10.4% from the year-ago figure. The same for revenues also implies growth of 5.3% from the prior-year reading. The consensus mark for RCMT&#39;s 2024 earnings has moved 2.2% north in the past 60 days.&nbsp;
The bottom line of AppLovin outpaced estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 21.06%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APP&#39;s 2024 earnings is pegged at $3.46 per share, which indicates a nearly four-fold increase from the year-ago figure. The consensus mark for revenues implies growth of 35.2% from the year-ago actual. The consensus mark for APP&#39;s 2024 earnings has moved 13.1% north in the past 60 days.
Shares of Duolingo and AppLovin have gained 24% and 238.2%, respectively, year to date. However, RCM Technologies stock has lost 31% in the same time frame.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2345644/western-union-expands-footprint-in-chile-with-khipu-partnership?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_finance_sector-2345644">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/23/final-trades-leidos-holdings-western-union-and-walmart.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners named Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LDOS/news">his final trade.</a>
On Sept. 18, Leidos said Tina Jonas has been appointed to the company&#8217;s board of directors, effective Sept. 25. 
&#8220;Tina Jonas brings extensive defense and aerospace leadership experience in both government and industry to the Leidos Board of Directors,&#8221; said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. &#8220;Her insights will be invaluable as we work to support our critical customer missions and our nation&#8217;s warfighters. We&#8217;re confident her contributions will help continue to drive innovation and growth for our organization, and we&#8217;re honored to welcome her to the board.&#8221;
Jenny Harrington of Gilman Hill Asset Management said The Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) has an 8% dividend yield.
On July 30, Western Union reported worse-than-expected second-quarter adjusted EPS results. Western Union reported quarterly earnings of 44 cents per share, which missed the analyst consensus estimate of 45 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.066 billion, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.060 billion.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
On Sept. 23, Melius Research analyst Karen Short initiated coverage on Walmart with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $95. Walmart is reportedly sweetening its pay-by-bank feature in Walmart Pay, allowing customers to pay directly from their checking accounts rather than debit cards, with transactions instantly reflected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40945833/walmart-to-offer-pay-by-bank-feature-for-online-transactions-with-launch-in-2025">in their bank accounts.</a>
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Leidos gained 1.7% to close at $159.68 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Western Union shares gained 2% to settle at $11.98 on Monday.</li>
<li>Walmart shares gained 1.6% to close at $80.33 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40980672/top-3-financials-stocks-that-may-plunge-in-september">Top 3 Financials Stocks That May Plunge In September</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Walmart, Leidos And A Financial Stock: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Leidos Holdings, The Western Union Company, Walmart

Western Union's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.31% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 19.59 million shares sold short, which is 7.55% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 6.0 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Western Union Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726587916_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Western Union has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Western Union's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Western Union's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.53%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

JP Morgan analyst Tien-Tsin Huang maintains Western Union (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $14 to $12.

JP Morgan Maintains Underweight on Western Union, Lowers Price Target to $12

Tech stocks soared to their best session in five months on Wednesday, ahead of the highly anticipated Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. This broad tech rally was propelled by a sharp rebound in chipmakers, buoyed by robust corporate earnings and easing concerns over chip<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/40075799/semiconductor-stocks-set-for-strongest-day-in-5-months-as-chip-export-concerns-subside-top-wedne"> export restrictions to China.</a>
The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates at 5.25-5.50%, but market attention is fixed on Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET, for any hints of a potential rate cut in September, which market participants have fully priced in.
The Nasdaq 100 surged 2.7%, with 87 of its constituents in positive territory, led by Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which jumped 11%. The tech-heavy index hasn&#8217;t experienced such a rally since February 2024.
The Biden administration is planning to introduce new regulations next month to restrict the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Chinese chipmakers, with key allies like Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea being exempt, according to Reuters. 
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) soared over 5%, also marking its strongest session since late February 2024.
The S&amp;P 500 also posted solid gains, rising 1.6%. Small caps, tracked by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>), increased by 1.1%, eyeing their highest close since January 2022. Blue chips climbed 0.7%.
The dollar eased 0.2%, weighed down by a disappointing July private employment report released earlier by the ADP. The Japanese yen, tracked by the Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXE#NYSE">FXE</a>), rallied 1.4% following an overnight rate hike by the Bank of Japan.
In commodities, gold rose 0.7%, surpassing $2,400 per ounce, and silver climbed 1.4%. Oil prices surged 3% amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh by Israeli forces in Iran.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) edged up 0.3%.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Movers In US Major Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,306.28</td>
<td>2.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,523.20</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,267.02</td>
<td>1.1 %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>41,030.77</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:55 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent073124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was 1.6% higher to $550.40.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.7% to $410.22.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) fell 2.6% to $469.60.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 1.1% to $224.09.</li>
<li>Sector-wise, the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)&nbsp;outperformed, rallying 3.4%, while the&nbsp;Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, up 0.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
Stocks moving on earnings were:
<ul>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), up 4%.</li>
<li>Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>), down 3.8%,</li>
<li>Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>) up over 9%,</li>
<li>AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>) up 8.2%,</li>
<li>Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>) up 1.5%,</li>
<li>Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLCO#NYSE">BLCO</a>) up 0.4%,</li>
<li>Boeing Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), up 5.1%,</li>
<li>Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>) up over 12%,</li>
<li>DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DV#NYSE">DV</a>) down about 1%,</li>
<li>DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>) up 5.3%, </li>
<li>First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) up 1.8%,</li>
<li>Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRSH#NASDAQ">FRSH</a>) down 4.5%,</li>
<li>Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>) down 4.6%, </li>
<li>GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>) down 2.3%,</li>
<li>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) down 8.8%,</li>
<li>KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) up 3.5%, </li>
<li>Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>) up 4.3%,</li>
<li>Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) up 2.1%, </li>
<li>Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTCH#NASDAQ">MTCH</a>) down 1%, </li>
<li>Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) (down over 2.50%)</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) down 1.8%</li>
<li>Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OSK#NYSE">OSK</a>) down 2.8%,</li>
<li>Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEN#NYSE">PEN</a>) down 3.1%,</li>
<li>Pinterest, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>) down over 12%</li>
<li>Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) up over 4%, </li>
<li>Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>) up over 8%,</li>
<li>T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) up 2.5%,</li>
<li>Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) down 1.5%.</li>
</ul>
Stocks reporting after the close include: 
<ul>
<li>Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>)</li>
<li>American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>)</li>
<li>Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>)</li>
<li>C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHRW#NASDAQ">CHRW</a>)</li>
<li>Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>)</li>
<li>eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>)</li>
<li>Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>)</li>
<li>Host Hotels &amp; Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HST#NASDAQ">HST</a>)</li>
<li>Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>
<li>MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>)</li>
<li>NETGEAR, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTGR#NASDAQ">NTGR</a>)</li>
<li>QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>)</li>
<li>Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDOC#NYSE">TDOC</a>)</li>
<li>Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>).</li>
</ul>
Read now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/federal-reserve/24/07/40071662/fed-shouldnt-wait-until-september-poll-finds-nearly-half-want-rate-cuts-today">Fed Shouldn&#8217;t Wait Until September: Poll Finds Nearly Half Want Rate Cuts Today</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Tech Stocks On Track For Best Session In 5 Months Ahead Of Fed Meeting; Small Caps Target Highest Close Since January 2022: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

Goldman Sachs analyst Will Nance lowered the firm's price target on Western Union (WU) to $10.50 from $11.50 and keeps a Sell rating on the shares....

Western Union price target lowered to $10.50 from $11.50 at Goldman Sachs

PubMatic (PUBM) announced an expansion of their work with Western Union (WU) to include its commerce media business. This collaboration expanded pa...

PubMatic expands collaboration with Western Union

Keefe Bruyette lowered the firm's price target on Western Union (WU) to $12 from $13 and keeps a Market Perform rating on the shares. The firm adju...

Western Union price target lowered to $12 from $13 at Keefe Bruyette

In a report released today, Ramsey El Assal from Barclays maintained a Sell rating on Western Union (WU – Research Report), with a price target of ...

Barclays Reaffirms Their Sell Rating on Western Union (WU)

Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal lowered the firm's price target on Western Union (WU) to $10 from $11 and keeps an Underweight rating on the share...

Western Union price target lowered to $10 from $11 at Barclays

The Western Union (WU) Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a new $1B authorization for the company to repurchase its common stoc...


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