Wolfe Research has recently reduced Western Union Co (WU) stock to Underperform rating, as announced on January 4, 2024, according to Finviz. Earlier, on December 5, 2023, BMO Capital Markets had initiated the stock to Market Perform, setting a price target of $12. UBS also resumed Neutral rating with a price target of $14. Additionally, Wolfe Research raised Peer Perform rating on April 20, 2023. UBS analysts, in their report published on April 10, 2023, also raised Neutral rating for Western Union Co’s stock. Analyst ratings are significant because they provide insights into stock performance expectations, influencing investor decisions and market sentiment.
Western Union Co (WU) Stock Trading Recap
On Tuesday, Western Union Co (WU) stock saw a modest uptick, ending the day at $10.46 which represents a slight increase of $0.11 or 1.06% from the prior close of $10.35. The stock opened at $10.4 and touched a low of $10.33 during the day, reaching a high of $10.49. The volume of shares traded was 3.40 million falling short of the average volume of 4.79 million.
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WU Stock Performance and Moving Averages
In recent trading, Western Union Co (WU) stock price has shown some volatility, fluctuating 0.10% over the last five trades and -3.77% over the past 30 trades. This represents a notable shift from earlier in the year. Over the last six months, the stock has risen by -15.98%, and it has plunged by -11.73% in the previous three months. Currently, WU is trading at -1.42%, -2.74%, and -12.72% relative to its 20-Day, 50-Day, and 200-Day Simple Moving Averages, respectively.
As of the latest trading close, WU, a Financial sector stock, is trading -26.27% below its 52-week high but remains 2.65% above its 52-week low. The Average True Range (ATR) (14 days) of 0.22 highlights the stock’s average volatility, providing insight into how much the price typically fluctuates. This measure is crucial for understanding potential price swings and assessing overall market risk.
Western Union Co’s Profitability and Valuation Ratios
Western Union Co’s profitability metrics reveal financial health. The company currently boasts an operating margin of 16.84% and a profit margin of 16.09%, with a gross margin of -15.98%. The profit margin, also known as the revenue ratio or gross profit ratio, measures how efficiently a company converts sales into net income; higher margins indicate greater profitability.
In terms of valuation, Western Union Co’s market capitalization stands at $3.53 billion. Market cap represents the total value of all outstanding shares and is a key indicator of a company’s market value. The stock’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 5.34, assessing the company’s valuation relative to its earnings. The forward P/E ratio, which uses projected earnings for the next financial year, is 5.8. Additionally, the Price-to-Sales Ratio is 0.84, reflecting the market’s valuation of the company’s sales, while the Price-to-Book Ratio is 5.41, comparing the market value to the company’s book value.
Understanding Insider Trading
Investors often prefer to invest in shares held by company insiders, as management is typically more aligned with the company’s success and shareholder interests. Currently, insiders own just 0.42% of Western Union Co (WU)’s shares, while financial institutions hold 91.92%.