The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices. The Consumer Services segments offers bill payment services, which facilitate payments for consumers, businesses, and other organizations, as well as money order services, retail foreign exchange services, prepaid cards, lending partnerships, and digital wallets. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Western Union Company (The)

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Western Union Co (Symbol: WU), where a total volume of 52,302 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 5.2 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 46.9% of WU's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 11.2 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $10 strike call option expiring November 21, 2025, with 15,864 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of WU. Below is a chart showing WU's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $10 strike highlighted in orange:
Rocket Companies Inc Class A (Symbol: RKT) saw options trading volume of 245,720 contracts, representing approximately 24.6 million underlying shares or approximately 46.8% of RKT's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 52.5 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $17 strike call option expiring October 24, 2025, with 41,780 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 4.2 million underlying shares of RKT. Below is a chart showing RKT's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $17 strike highlighted in orange:
And Medical Properties Trust Inc (Symbol: MPW) saw options trading volume of 31,975 contracts, representing approximately 3.2 million underlying shares or approximately 46.6% of MPW's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 6.9 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $5.50 strike call option expiring October 31, 2025, with 22,502 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 2.3 million underlying shares of MPW. Below is a chart showing MPW's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $5.50 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for WU options, RKT options, or MPW options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
EBC Options Chain
VNM shares outstanding history
WABC shares outstanding history
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Friday Option Activity: WU, RKT, MPW

The Western Union Company WU reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 47 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.3%. The bottom line grew 2.2% year over year.
Total revenues remained flat on a reported basis at $1 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 1.2%.
The quarterly results benefited on the back of a declining expense level and strong performance of the Consumer Services (CS) segment. The Branded Digital business posted transaction growth. However, the upside was partly offset by a revenue drop in the Consumer Money Transfer (CMT) segment, impacted by weaker transactions.
The Western Union Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Q3 Performance of WU
The adjusted operating margin of 20% improved 100 basis points (bps) year over year on the back of cost efficiencies achieved.
Total expenses came in at $830.7 million, which declined 5% year over year in the quarter under review and came lower than our estimate of $833.7 million. The year-over-year decline resulted from a fall in the cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses.
Operating income advanced 22% year over year to $201.9 million, which beat our estimate of $191.3 million.
Segment Analysis of WU
The CMT segment recorded revenues of $878 million in the third quarter, which slipped 6% year over year. The metric fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $891 million and our estimate of $903.7 million.
Operating income declined 9% year over year to $172.2 million. Nevertheless, the metric beat the consensus mark of $171 million and our estimate of $170.7 million. The operating income margin remained flat year over year at 20%.
Transactions within the CMT segment on an adjusted basis, excluding Iraq, dipped 2% year over year. However, there was 12% transaction growth in the Branded Digital business. Branded Digital revenues, which accounted for 38% of CMT’s third-quarter revenues, rose 7% on a reported basis and 6% on an adjusted basis.
The CS segment’s revenues climbed 49% year over year on a reported and an adjusted basis to $154.6 million in the quarter under review. The metric outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $128 million and our estimate of $121.3 million.
Operating income totaled $34 million, which increased nearly fourfold year over year. The metric beat the consensus mark and our estimate of $27.2 million. The operating income margin improved 1,300 bps year over year to 22%.
WU’s Financial Position (As of Sept. 30, 2025)
Western Union exited the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $947.8 million, which plunged 35.7% from the 2024-end level. Total assets of $7.8 billion declined 7% from the figure at 2024-end.
Borrowings were $2.6 billion, down 11.9% from the figure as of Dec. 31, 2024.
Total stockholders' equity of $925.4 million slid 4.5% from the 2024-end level.
WU generated net cash from operations of $408.3 million in the first nine months of 2025, which soared 49.9% from the prior-year comparable period.
Western Union’s Capital Deployment
Western Union rewarded its shareholders with $230 million in the form of dividends and $200 million in share buybacks in the first nine months of 2025.
WU’s 2025 View Maintained
Management reiterates adjusted revenues to lie between $4.035 billion and $4.135 billion.
Adjusted EPS continues to be forecasted in the range of $1.65-$1.75, the midpoint of which indicates a 2.3% decline from the 2024 reported figure.
GAAP EPS continues to be forecasted in the band of $1.45-$1.55, the midpoint of which implies a 45.3% decline from the 2024 figure.
The adjusted operating margin is still expected to be between 19% and 21%. The metric was 19% in 2024.
Zacks Rank
Western Union currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
A Business Services Sector Release
Of the Business Services sector players that have reported third-quarter results so far, the bottom line of ManpowerGroup Inc. MAN beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
ManpowerGroup reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of 83 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2% but decreased 35.7% year over year. Total revenues of $4.63 billion beat the consensus estimate by 0.6% and rose 2.3% year over year. Revenues from America of $1.1 billion increased 4.6% year over year on a reported basis and increased 5.5% at cc. In the United States, revenues reached $690.8 million, declining 0.9% year over year.
Revenues from Southern Europe of $2.21 billion rose 5.2% on a reported basis but declined 1.3% at cc. Revenues from France were up 1.4% on a reported basis but down 4.7% at cc. Revenues from Italy amounted to $462.5 million and increased 10.3% on a reported basis and 3.7% at cc. Northern Europe revenues declined 1.4% on a reported basis and 6.7% at cc to $816.8 million. The company registered an operating profit of $66.6 million, down 6.1% year over year on a reported basis and 3.5% at cc.
Upcoming Releases
Here are some companies from the Business Services space, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. FCFS has an Earnings ESP of +3.67% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FCFS’ third-quarter 2025 earnings is $1.91 per share, indicating 14.4% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
FirstCash earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 9.19%.
Global Payments Inc. GPN has an Earnings ESP of +0.62% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GPN’s third-quarter 2025 earnings is $3.23 per share, implying 4.9% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Global Payments’ earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark twice, the average surprise being 1.46%.
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Western Union's Q3 Earnings Beat on CS Unit Strength, Lower Costs

Western Union (WU) reported $1.04 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2024, representing a year-over-year decline of 5.6%. EPS of $0.46 for the same period compares to $0.43 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.42% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.03 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.44, the EPS surprise was +4.55%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Western Union performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Consumer Money Transfer transactions- Total: 72.6 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of 70.88 million.
Revenue- Consumer Services: $103.80 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $83.16 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +31.7%.
Revenue- Consumer Money Transfer: $932.20 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $948.98 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -8.5%.
View all Key Company Metrics for Western Union here>>>
Shares of Western Union have returned -3.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
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Western Union (WU) Q3 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates

Western Union (WU) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.44 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.43 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 4.55%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this money transfer company would post earnings of $0.44 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.44, delivering no surprise.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Western Union, which belongs to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry, posted revenues of $1.04 billion for the quarter ended September 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.42%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.1 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Western Union shares have lost about 2.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 22.7%.
What's Next for Western Union?
While Western Union has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Western Union: unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.43 on $1.03 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.76 on $4.17 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial Transaction Services is currently in the top 29% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Paysafe Limited (PSFE), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2024.
This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +1.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Paysafe Limited's revenues are expected to be $424.5 million, up 7.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in The Western Union Company (WU)?
Before you invest in The Western Union Company (WU), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Western Union (WU) Tops Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

(RTTNews) - Western Union Co (WU) reported earnings for third quarter that Decreased from the same period last year but beat the Street estimates.
The company's bottom line came in at $139.6 million, or $0.43 per share. This compares with $264.8 million, or $0.78 per share, last year.
Excluding items, Western Union Co reported adjusted earnings of $151.2 million or $0.47 per share for the period.
Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $0.43 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.
The company's revenue for the period fell 0.4% to $1.032 billion from $1.036 billion last year.
Western Union Co earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $139.6 Mln. vs. $264.8 Mln. last year. -EPS: $0.43 vs. $0.78 last year. -Revenue: $1.032 Bln vs. $1.036 Bln last year.
-Guidance: Full year EPS guidance: $1.65 - $1.75 Full year revenue guidance: $4.085 - $4.185 Bln
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Western Union Co Q3 Profit Decreases, But Beats Estimates

(RTTNews) - Western Union Co (WU) will host a conference call at 4:30 PM ET on October 23, 2025, to discuss Q3 25 earnings results.
To access the live webcast, log on to https://ir.westernunion.com
To listen to the call, dial +1 (719) 359-4580 (US), Meeting ID 947 9772 0982 Passcode 067407.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Western Union Q3 25 Earnings Conference Call At 4:30 PM ET

Mastercard Incorporated MA has recently expanded its partnership with Corpay, a payments software and services provider, to bring its near real-time cross-border payments into 22 additional markets in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. This isn’t just about expanding geographic reach; it’s a strategic step into the heart of the rapidly expanding global B2B money movement. With cross-border payments projected to top $250 trillion by 2027, the stakes are enormous.
At the end of April, Mastercard deepened the alliance by investing about $300 million for a roughly 3% stake in Corpay’s cross-border business. The move provided not only equity exposure but also a tighter operational link to a trusted partner. This aligns with Mastercard’s increasing focus on international transactions, which are becoming a stronger driver of growth. In the second quarter alone, its cross-border volumes climbed 15% year over year on a local currency basis, signaling strong momentum.
Businesses today demand faster settlement, better transparency on fees and more predictability on currency conversions. Traditionally, international wire transfers are slow and costly. By offering near real-time options through Corpay, Mastercard is directly addressing a pain point that affects enterprises of all sizes, from small merchants to large corporations. That builds loyalty and positions Mastercard as a solutions provider rather than just a network.
Cross-border flows yield higher margins than domestic transactions, and every new market adds profitable scale. Corpay’s institutional clients further boost Mastercard Move volumes, while exclusivity in large-ticket and risk-management services ensures sticky, high-value revenue streams. This partnership strengthens Mastercard’s control of a lucrative, underpenetrated market while steadily enhancing recurring income.
How Are Peers Playing the Cross-border Game?
Major rival Visa Inc. V is building infrastructure to facilitate instant money transfers for both businesses and consumers, while The Western Union Company WU is modernizing its remittance stronghold and digitizing its network.
Visa is leveraging its global payment rails, especially through Visa Direct, which enables real-time push payments to cards, bank accounts and wallets. This has become a key driver for cross-border person-to-person and business-to-consumer payouts. Meanwhile, Western Union’s deep physical presence in emerging markets and growing digital footprint make it resilient in person-to-person transfers. Last month, WU agreed to acquire Intermex for around $500 million to boost its capabilities.
Mastercard’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of Mastercard have gained 7.3% year to date, outperforming the broader industry’s 0.1% growth.
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From a valuation standpoint, Mastercard trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 30.85X, higher than the industry average. Mastercard carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s 2025 earnings implies an 11.8% rise year over year, followed by 16.5% growth next year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Mastercard Deepens Corpay Alliance to Boost Cross-Border Flows

The Western Union announced today that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.235 per common share, payable September 30, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 16, 2025.
Gaming and Leisure Properties, announced today that the Company's Board of Directors has declared the third quarter 2025 cash dividend of $0.78 per share of its common stock. The dividend is payable on September 26, 2025 to shareholders of record on September 12, 2025. The third quarter 2024 cash dividend was $0.76 per share of the Company's common stock.
The Board of Directors of Wesco International today declared a quarterly cash dividend on all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, in an amount equal to $0.45375 per share. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2025 to the holders of record of the common stock at the close of business on September 12, 2025.
Mosaic announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be paid on September 18, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 8, 2025.
Lam Research today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a $0.03, or 13%, increase in its quarterly dividend, from $0.23 to $0.26 per share of common stock. The dividend payment will be made on October 15, 2025, to holders of record on September 24, 2025.
VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: WU,GLPI,WCC,MOS,LRCX
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Daily Dividend Report: WU,GLPI,WCC,MOS,LRCX

Bargain hunters are wise to pay careful attention to insider buying, because although there are many various reasons for an insider to sell a stock, presumably the only reason they would use their hard-earned dollars to make a purchase, is that they expect to make money. Today we look at two noteworthy recent insider buys.
At Western Union, a filing with the SEC revealed that on Thursday, CEO & President Devin McGranahan bought 176,470 shares of WU, at a cost of $8.49 each, for a total investment of $1.5M. Western Union is trading up about 2.1% on the day Tuesday.
And at Bakkt Holdings, there was insider buying on Friday, by CEO and President Akshay Sudhir Naheta who bought 180,000 shares for a cost of $8.19 each, for a trade totaling $1.47M. This purchase marks the first one filed by Naheta in the past year. Bakkt Holdings is trading up about 8.2% on the day Tuesday. So far Naheta is in the green, up about 12.7% on their buy based on today's trading high of $9.23.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tuesday 8/26 Insider Buying Report: WU, BKKT

The market-at-large is expensive by historical metrics. So let's look past the pricey, low-yielding ETFs in favor of cheap dividend stocks.
That's right, good ol' value investing bargains. With high yields too! We're talking about divvies of 5%, 8% and even 11% that we'll discuss in a moment.
The spring market dip sure was brief, wasn't it? The S&P 500 sank into near-bear territory in roughly a month, then snapped back just as quick.
Now? If We're Buying the Market, We're Buying Even Higher
In doing so, Mr. and Ms. Market took valuations to high levels. The S&P 500's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.1 remains in rarefied air, last reached during the COVID rebound, and before that, the dot-com bubble.
Which is fine. We'll leave the 22 P/Es to the vanilla investors while we focus on bargains with respect to two "cash is king" metrics:
Big dividends: These generous stocks dish out 4x to 9x the market's yield.
Cheap price-to-cash-flow: These companies are priced dirt cheap with respect to the cash flow they generate.
Let's start with Virginia-based electric utility AES Corp. (AES, 5.5% yield), which we recently discussed as a low-beta name. This means AES, being a safe, stodgy utility, is more insulated from market pullbacks than run-of-the-mill dividends.
AES also has upside potential. Its renewable energy-selling business gives it growth potential that many utility stocks don't have.
Potential, But So Far, It Hasn't Shown Up Much in Practice
It's also cheap. AES trades at a cheap 5 times cash-flow estimates, as well as a 0.6 PEG that implies it's also cheap compared to its growth estimates. (Remember: A PEG under 1.0 signals that a stock is inexpensive.) The stock yields more than 5%, to boot, which is better than the already generous utility sector.
Edison International (EIX, 5.9%) is another utility company--this one more typical of the sector. It's the parent of regulated utility Southern California Edison (SCE), which serves more than 15 million customers and generates much of its electricity from renewable sources including solar, wind, and hydro. It does, however, have a second business--Trio (formerly Edison Energy), a global energy advisory firm that serves large commercial, industrial and institutional organizations.
Unlike other utilities, however, EIX is a bit more "exciting." It spent years in court fighting litigation over wildfire damage and ended up having to pay multiple billion-dollar-plus settlements. And the legal drama has returned in 2025. Shares have lost more than a quarter of their value, with most of that coming in January amid Los Angeles County wildfires, including the massive Eaton Fire, which prompted multiple suits against SCE over allegations that the company had "violated public safety and utility codes and was negligent in its handling of power safety shut-offs." SCE is also being investigated in connection with the Hurst Fire.
In Fact, Wildfire Woes Have Been Par for the Course
If, for a minute, we closed our eyes and ignored all that, there's a lot to like about Edison. It's expected to generate decent top-line growth and a significant snap-back in profits over the next couple years. The big drop in shares has launched EIX's yield to nearly 6%. It trades at just 3 times cash-flow estimates. And its PEG, which at fractionally under 1 suggests the stock is only mildly underpriced, is substantially down from the nearly 3 it traded at when I evaluated the stock a couple years ago.
But we can't ignore the fire liabilities--they're why EIX's valuations are so low. That makes Edison a much bigger high-risk, high-reward gamble than the average utility.
Amcor (AMCR, 5.2% yield) is technically a cyclical stock, but it acts defensively. That's because, as a packaging specialist, it's in the business of--well, other business's business. It makes everything from high-barrier paperboard trays for beef and meats to glass dressing bottles to overwrap for home and personal care. And its applications go far beyond the grocery store: Amcor's products are used in garden and outdoor products, agriculture, pet care, healthcare, even building and construction. So Amcor is simultaneously a play on the broader economy and all the businesses it supports, but it also fills a vital need across a diversified set of companies.
AMCR stands out for a few reasons:
It's a Dividend Aristocrat with a 5%-plus yield, which is rare. The hallowed group of dividend growers know how to stack pennies over time, but their headline numbers often leave a lot to be desired.
Amcor's shares tend to be less volatile than most.
The stock is cheap, at least as far as cash flow is concerned; P/CF is roughly 6x right now. It's a little less attractive by other metrics; its forward P/E (12) is so-so, and its PEG (1.3), while cheaper than the market, is still a bit overpriced.
Kodiak Gas Services (KGS, 5.2% yield) is an energy services firm that provides natural gas compression services, mostly in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. Its compression units are critical to upstream and midstream natural gas firms, so it's able to secure multiyear, fixed-revenue contracts. There's nothing novel about the business model, though. Like other energy services firms, if natural gas/liquefied natural gas (LNG) is in demand, Kodiak will be in demand, so the fact that global LNG demand is expected to grow over the next few years bodes well for KGS.
That's in large part because Kodiak is extremely well-positioned to capture that growth. In late 2023, KGS announced it would acquire CSI Compressco LP to create the industry's largest compression fleet. Kodiak's fleet is young, too (read: less maintenance and replacement costs).
There's not much stock history to examine, however. Kodiak is a relatively new issue that went public just a few months before the CSI announcement. But the company has started a dividend and raised it twice since then, including a nearly 10% improvement announced in April 2025.
A Stock Doubler-Plus + A New and Rising Dividend. Nice Start!
Meanwhile, its yield has wafted up to over 5% amid energy's weakness this year--and left shares relatively cheap. KGS trades at roughly 6 times cash flow estimates and a low PEG of 0.13.
Atlas Energy Solutions (AESI, 8.4% yield) is another Permian Basin energy equipment and services firm, this one providing transportation and logistics, storage solutions, and contract labor services to oil and natural gas E&P firms, as well as other oilfield services companies. Its most important offering is mesh frac sand used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking). I had been keeping tabs on it because of its unorthodox streak of dividend hikes, but that streak stopped earlier this year.
The Trap Door Opened Soon After AESI Stopped Raising
It's not ideal. Nor is the fact that AESI shares have been hammered to the tune of 45% this year. Again, energy services haven't had a great 2025, but Atlas has been downright miserable amid slower-than-expected U.S. completion activity and droopy frac-sand prices. If there's any silver lining to that, it's that AESI shares now trade at just 5.7 times estimates for cash flows, as well as an attractive PEG of 0.75.
The dividend at least appears to be safe, too. While things look bad from an adjusted earnings perspective ($1.00 in dividends annually vs. forecasts for just 25 cents this year), Atlas has more than enough FCF to cover the payout. Example: Last quarter, it generated $48.9 million in adjusted FCF while paying out $30.9 million. Those cash flows are substantial because AESI is a low-cost operator--crucial for survival in this industry. But like any energy services provider, Atlas needs commodity prices to cooperate.
It's unusual for a blue-chip stock like United Parcel Service (UPS, 7.5%) to yield north of 7%, but it's also rare for a blue-chip stock like UPS to have its shares hemorrhage so much without a recession or broader bear market.
Lower-margin e-commerce volumes, higher costs because of its unionized workforce, and a weak freight environment hampered the company in 2024.
Then in early 2025, it spooked investors with a weak 2025 forecast and announced that--in hopes of shifting away from those lower-margin volumes--it would drastically reduce its business with Amazon (AMZN), which accounted for roughly 10%-12% of annual UPS revenues. The April tariff announcement also hit shares hard.
The result? UPS shares have lost nearly half of their value in just two years.
The upshot? UPS trades at roughly 8 times cash-flow estimates and has never offered a better yield in its 26 years of trading.
Sadly, Dividend Growth Had Little to Do With It
Is UPS a dividend trap? Perhaps. The company pulled its full-year revenue and profit forecasts in April, and didn't bring them back in its late July report.
Meanwhile, Wall Street is expecting a roughly 15% drop in adjusted earnings, to $6.61 per share. That specific number matters: UPS has a target dividend payout ratio of approximately 50% of prior-year adjusted EPS. It currently pays $6.56 across four quarterly dividends. (That's 99%!) CEO Carol Tome continued to signal commitment to the dividend in the earnings call--"UPS is rock-solid strong and so is our dividend. The UPS dividend is backed by solid free cash flow and a strong investment-grade balance sheet," she said--but if the delivery giant continues to struggle, simple numbers might force management's hand.
Western Union (WU, 11.3% yield), somehow, is still in business. Payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Zelle have been taking business from the "OG" of money transfer. WU boasts a big yield but for the wrong reason--its divvie looks big because shares are (deservedly) way down!
Western Union Has Been Headed South for Years
WU, to its credit, has launched an initiative called "Evolve 2025" in which it's rolling out new products, improvements and an operational efficiency program. It's also expanding its digital wallet offerings in Mexico and Singapore. And its latest move, announced just a couple days ago, is the $500 million acquisition of Miami-based International Money Express (IMXI), aka Intermex, which serves some 6 million customers who send money from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany to more than 60 countries.
But c'mon man--this dog is dead. The business trades for 4x cash flow and a sub-5 forward P/E, but who cares? Not me.
Fortunately, we don't have to stretch as far as buying Western Union to secure high yields right now. In fact, I know 3 incredible dividend payers dishing out yields up to 10%--and they even pay us monthly! Click here for the details.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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