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 appears to be a mature business with very low valuation multiples, but the fundamental picture is not strong enough to justify aggressively raising the target price. P/E of 6.04, P/S of 0.66, and P/FCF of 7.00 are noticeably below the industry median, indicating cheapness; however, P/B of 2.82 is, on the contrary, significantly above the sector level and suggests limited upside from a balance-sheet perspective. Profitability remains high relative to the sector: ROE of 47.96%, ROA of 5.48%, and ROI of 12.15% look strong, but all of these metrics have deteriorated noticeably compared with earlier quarters, reducing confidence in the sustainability of earnings quality. Margins are also compressing: net margin of 10.89%, operating margin of 17.36%, and gross margin of 36.12% are below industry benchmarks and have generally weakened over the period. At the same time, revenue remains stable at around $1 billion, but profitability and EBITDA have declined, and TTM net income of $65 million looks modest relative to the scale of the business. Leverage is one of the main risks: debt/equity of 2.88 is significantly above the median, and long-term debt of $2.623 billion against equity of $911 million leaves the balance sheet sensitive to any deterioration in operating trends. Liquidity is formally acceptable with a current ratio of 1.11, but the quick ratio is zero, which for an investor means a very weak immediate liquidity cushion. The dividend yield of 3.24% is rising and supports the stock’s investment appeal, but the dividend alone does not offset pressure from declining earnings and margin compression. TTM EPS of 0.25 and forecast EPS of 0.40 remain low, and their level relative to the industry does not seem sufficient to warrant a strong upward revision of the valuation. Overall, the stock looks more undervalued on multiples, but with notable structural constraints: high leverage, weakening earnings, and margin compression. Therefore, the base forecast should be slightly reduced, maintaining a conservative approach and recognizing that the re-rating potential is limited by the maturity of the business and the weak trajectory of earnings quality.

Western Union Company (The)

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Strong index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Strong index, flat. The market does not support the bulls.

Средний индекс, без изменений. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Medium index, flat. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

WU looks cheap on P/E, P/S, and P/FCF, but weaker on margins, earnings, and debt; the dividend supports the case, however the fundamentals do not offer strong upside.

The Invesco S&P SmallCap Quality ETF is seeing unusually high volume in afternoon trading Tuesday, with over 355,000 shares traded versus three month average volume of about 37,000. Shares of XSHQ were up about 2.5% on the day.
Components of that ETF with the highest volume on Tuesday were U.S. Silica Holdings, trading up about 0.2% with over 1.5 million shares changing hands so far this session, and American Eagle Outfitters, up about 2.8% on volume of over 905,000 shares. Monro is the component faring the best Tuesday, higher by about 6.4% on the day, while Powell Industries is lagging other components of the Invesco S&P SmallCap Quality ETF, trading lower by about 3.5%.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tuesday's ETF with Unusual Volume: XSHQ

The Western Union Company WU is set to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, 2026, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at 43 cents per share on revenues of $1.01 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate remained stable over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year jump of 2.4%. However, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year decrease of 1.8%.
For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Western Union’s revenues is pegged at $4.18 billion, implying a rise of 3.2% year over year. The consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pegged at $1.74, implying a year-over-year decrease of 0.6%.
Western Union beat the consensus estimate in two of the last four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being negative 7%. This is depicted in the figure below.
The Western Union Company Price and EPS Surprise
Q2 Earnings Whispers for Western Union
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.
WU has an Earnings ESP of -6.50% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
What’s Shaping WU’s Q2 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Consumer Money Transfer revenues indicate 3.7% and 4.6% year-over-year decreases, respectively. The consensus mark for C2C transactions indicates a 1.2% year-over-year increase, while we expect a 1% rise.
Geographically, revenues are expected to decline year over year in North America, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Asia Pacific. This is likely to have led to lower revenues. Furthermore, the consensus mark for operating income from the Consumer Money Transfer segment signals a 13.2% year-over-year decline, whereas our model predicts a 12.4% fall.
However, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Consumer Services revenues indicates 9.7% year-over-year growth, while our model estimate predicts a 10.3% increase. The consensus mark for operating income from the segment predicts a 29.2% year-over-year surge, while our model indicates a 29.7% jump.
Moreover, our model estimate for total operating expenses indicates a 1.1% year-over-year decrease due to lower cost of services and SG&A costs. These are likely to have led to bottom-line growth.
How Are Peers Doing This Quarter?
Companies in the broader Finance space, like Synchrony Financial SYF and American Express Company AXP, have already reported their results for the June quarter, and Mastercard Incorporated MA is yet to report.
Synchrony Financial reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.59, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.5%, and the bottom line increased 3.6% year over year. The quarterly results were driven by record purchase volume, accelerated growth in ending loan receivables despite elevated payment behavior, continued credit strength and an expansion in net interest margin. However, SYF’s higher operating expenses and an increase in the provision for credit losses partly offset these positives.
American Express reported second-quarter 2026 EPS of $4.53, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.7%. The bottom line advanced 11% year over year. The strong quarterly results were driven by increased Card Member spending, higher net interest income and improved card fee growth. However, the upside was partly offset by AXP’s elevated operating expenses.
Mastercard is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $4.77 per shareon revenues of $9.06 billion. The bottom-line projection indicates an increase of 14.9% from the year-ago reported number, while the same for revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 11.4%.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
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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.

Can Consumer Services Cushion Western Union's Q2 Revenue Drop?

Western Union (WU) closed at $12.60 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.2% move from the prior day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.64%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 1.85%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.2%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the money transfer company had gained 2.13% over the past month. This has lagged the Business Services sector's gain of 2.71% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.82% in that time.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Western Union in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.44, signifying a 13.73% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $1.06 billion, showing a 9.37% drop compared to the year-ago quarter.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $1.76 per share and revenue of $4.17 billion, indicating changes of +1.15% and -4.21%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Western Union. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the company's business and profitability.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Western Union presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, Western Union is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 7.08. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 15.33.
Also, we should mention that WU has a PEG ratio of 1.81. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The average PEG ratio for the Financial Transaction Services industry stood at 1.01 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 170, putting it in the bottom 33% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow WU in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
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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) Beats Stock Market Upswing: What Investors Need to Know

(RTTNews) - The Western Union Company (WU) and International Money Express, or Intermex (IMXI) said money transmission regulators in 51 applicable U.S. states and territories and in all international jurisdictions have provided their approval of or non-objection to the Western Union's pending acquisition of Intermex, and approval or non-objection is currently pending from one U.S. state.
The companies said they remain actively engaged in discussions with regulators, including the New York State Department of Financial Services, to obtain the final regulatory approval.
At last close, Western Union shares were trading at $7.24, up 2.99%.
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, Intermex Issue Update On Pending Acquisition

Key Points
What previously required multi-step communications, relatively expensive infrastructure, and time can now be efficiently accomplished by the savvy use of mobile technology.
The transition in payment methods creates an opportunity for the right service provider to win market share.
Remitly’s recent fiscal performance is just a sampling of the strong growth it’s apt to achieve going forward.
If you've ever wired money overseas, you know it's not nearly as easy as using fintech platforms like Zelle or PayPal's (NASDAQ: PYPL) Venmo within the U.S. Indeed, moving money beyond the United States' border can be surprisingly complicated and time-consuming; these transactions are highly regulated.
Nevertheless, the need is there, with some estimates putting the outbound (from the U.S.) amount alone at around $200 billion per year.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Enter Remitly Global (NASDAQ: RELY).
Launched in 2012, the company got off to a seemingly slow start as an international remittance middleman between the United States and other parts of the world. Chalk it up to the newness of the premise, mostly. At that point, bank wires and platforms like Western Union (NYSE: WU) were the established option, despite steep fees and slow turnaround times. This market wasn't quite ready for a mobile app then, and, to be fair, Remitly's earliest app iteration wasn't nearly as capable as it is today. Now, its platform can send money to and from over 175 countries.
And it's increasingly doing just that at an accelerating growth pace.
Well-earned growth
Remitly's recent results speak volumes about the fintech company's growing reach. Last quarter, 9.6 million customers used the Remitly app to send $22.1 billion across borders, generating nearly $453 million in revenue for the company. Those numbers are up 20%, 37%, and 25% (respectively) year over year, extending last year's top-line growth of 29%. The company's now firmly profitable too, improving its quarterly net income by 332%, from $11.4 million in Q1 of last year to $49.1 million for the three months ending in March.
What's driving this progress? Simplicity, mostly. Sending money across any border still requires extensive disclosure and permissions. Remitly just builds much of this logistical work into the app itself, without the need for a brick-and-mortar station to assist customers with the process.
The company also enjoys scale and can afford to cost-effectively handle the currencies that its customers may need to convert money to or from, and passes along these savings to its users.
More than anything, the app just works, earning 4.9 stars in Apple's App Store and 4.8 stars on Android. Remitly's platform reliably -- and easily -- does what consumers have struggled to efficiently get done before.
There's plenty more upside ahead, too. Mordor Intelligence suggests the worldwide remittance industry is poised to grow at an average annualized rate of 12.4% through 2031. It's an evolving business; however, that's also ripe for disruption by a new information technology name like Remitly.
Analysts see something most investors don't yet
So, yes, Remitly stock could be a long-term winner. Just note that the stock's been stagnant since early 2022, shortly after peaking in 2021 following its IPO. Most investors remain on the fence. They'll need to get on board if the stock's going to climb.
Analysts aren't undecided, though. All of them covering this stock rate it a strong buy, with a consensus price target of $28.25 -- which is 50% above this ticker's present price. That's not a bad way to start out a new trade.
Should you buy stock in Remitly Global right now?
Before you buy stock in Remitly Global, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Remitly Global wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $443,191!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,258,838!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 941% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 8, 2026.
James Brumley has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, and PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short June 2026 $50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Remitly Is Disrupting Cross-Border Payments. Is the Stock a Long-Term Winner?

Key Points
Solana's speed made it famous, but its continued innovation and development are what give it staying power.
Solana has captured a solid share of the decentralized finance, stablecoin, and tokenization markets.
Crypto price slumps can be an opportunity to pick up undervalued altcoins.
The total cryptocurrency market cap is $2.5 trillion at the time of this writing on June 2. It has fallen almost 30% in the past year and is a long way from last year's high of over $4.3 trillion, making it hard to imagine when the next bull run might come.
However, not only does history tell us that prices are likely to recover, but the price slump also belies the regulatory and systemic shifts that have taken place in the past few years, making blockchain fundamentals the strongest they've ever been.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
When prices do rebound, Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) is well-positioned to outperform, making it a good cryptocurrency investment. Here's why it is my pick for the next crypto bull run.
Two reasons why Solana could soar
Solana has the reputation, staying power, and proven capabilities to succeed. In addition to its speed, which sets it apart from other blockchains, it has developed resilience and built crucial commercial partnerships.
1. It has established its credentials, but still has room to grow
The best altcoins -- like Solana -- occupy the sweet spot between risk and reward: They are established enough to reduce some of the risk but still small enough to have serious growth potential. For example, Solana's market cap is around $46 billion -- about 20% of Ethereum's (CRYPTO: ETH). It is also one of the few top cryptocurrencies from five years ago that have significantly increased in value. Solana has gained more than 160% since June 1, 2021.
Its credentials go further than price performance. Only Ethereum and Bitcoin have more full-time developers working on their ecosystems. It has been battle-tested, processing a record of over 110 million transactions in a single day in February. For context, Ethereum processes between 2 million and 4 million a day. And it keeps improving -- the upcoming Alpenglow upgrade aims to make it faster and more reliable. These are all signals that Solana can go higher.
2. It is emerging as a credible alternative to Ethereum
Solana is fast enough to rival traditional payment processors. According to research from The Motley Fool, it has near-instant settlement, and transaction fees are a fraction of a cent. That makes it ideally suited for volume-heavy applications like payments, trading, artificial intelligence agents, and more.
Although Ethereum still dominates, accounting for over 50% of funds deposited on decentralized finance platforms, Solana has edged out many competitors. It is in third place in terms of funds on its ecosystem, issuance of stablecoins, and total tokenized assets, all of which will be crucial to any mainstream adoption and fuel future growth.
It may look like Solana's taking a lot of bronze medals without any clear wins. Still, I see that as a sign of all-around strength, particularly as Solana has several stablecoin partnerships with traditional financial firms. Western Union built its stablecoin on Solana, while SoFi launched on Solana and Ethereum.
Solana has the potential to shine again
All altcoins face challenges. For Solana, which experienced outages in its early years, any new technical issues would hamper its growth. However, it seems to have put those initial issues behind it with recent upgrades focused on resilience and security.
Slow regulatory progress and an inflationary macroeconomic backdrop will likely pressure crypto prices in the near term. When the next bull run comes, Solana could soar once again.
Should you buy stock in Solana right now?
Before you buy stock in Solana, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Solana wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $443,191!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,258,838!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 941% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 6, 2026.
Emma Newbery has positions in Ethereum and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

My Top Altcoin Pick for the Next Crypto Bull Run

Key Points
Remitly was once deeply unprofitable, but its profits are now soaring.
Its user growth, AI upgrades, and expanding ecosystem are boosting its margins.
Remitly (NASDAQ: RELY), a digitally native provider of cross-border remittance services, went public in Sept. 2021. At the time, it lacked a clear path to profitability. But in 2023, its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) turned positive.
In 2025, it turned profitable by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Its rising profits led to its inclusion in the S&P SmallCap 600 index this May.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect Remitly's revenue to grow at a 19% CAGR, as its adjusted EBITDA and GAAP EPS increase at CAGRs of 30% and 54%, respectively. Let's see why Remitly's profits are soaring -- and if it can maintain that momentum for the foreseeable future.
Why are Remitly's profits rising?
Remitly generates most of its revenue by buying currencies at cheaper "interbank" rates and selling them back to its users at a markup. It also charges transaction fees for each transfer.
Even with those markups, which kept its take rate above 2%, Remitly couldn't initially turn a profit because its operating costs were too high. But as it gained more users, economies of scale kicked in, diluting those expenses. From 2021 to 2025, its year-end active customer base expanded from 2.8 million to 9.3 million, its send volume jumped from $20.4 billion to $74.9 billion, and its annual revenue more than tripled from $459 million to $1.64 billion.
Yet that was only half the story. As Remitly expanded, it prioritized growth among higher-value senders, integrated its remittance services into Meta's WhatsApp, and expanded its ecosystem through its Flex (send now, pay later) and Business platforms. It also used AI-powered fraud-detection tools to minimize fraud across its platform and replaced most of its customer service teams with automated systems.
But can Remitly maintain that momentum?
Remitly's business is firing on all cylinders, but it faces plenty of competition from traditional money transfer leaders like Western Union and MoneyGram. Stablecoins like Tether and USD Coin, which enable cross-border transfers at much faster, cheaper rates, could also pose a long-term threat.
However, Remity's existing partnerships with banks, stores, and popular apps could still give it a last-mile advantage against those competitors in cross-border payments. Its low enterprise value of $3.6 billion could also make it a tempting takeover target for a bigger fintech company.
If Remitly maintains its current momentum, expands into more countries, and gains millions of new users as it rolls out new services, its revenue and profits will continue to rise. If you expect that to happen, then it's still a screaming bargain at nine times this year's adjusted EBITDA.
Should you buy stock in Remitly Global right now?
Before you buy stock in Remitly Global, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Remitly Global wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $462,983!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,375,447!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 3, 2026.
Leo Sun has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Remitly's Path to Profitability Is Becoming Clearer. Here's What's Driving It.

Let's capitalize on analyst incompetence--and bank yields up to 18.3%, with upside to boot!
A widely cited academic study on analyst target price accuracy found that only about 54% of 12-month price targets correctly predicted even the direction of the subsequent price move.
Fifty-four percent. On direction alone. That's barely better than a coin flip!
Analysts give specific price targets to stocks like they are scripture. In reality, they don't even know if the thing is going to move up or down.
And it gets uglier. A 2024 Yale School of Management study found that analysts systematically delay downgrading stocks after bad news--to curry favor with the companies they cover. The suits aren't just bad at predicting stock moves. They're deliberately stalling their warnings to protect their banking relationships.
Put those two facts together and the picture is clear. Wall Street "research" is a farce. Which is exactly why it works so well as a contrarian indicator!
When Wall Street's collective price target sits below the stock's current price, that's not a signal to sell. That's a signal that full pessimism is baked in! All it takes is one decent earnings report and the stock gaps higher while the research machine scrambles to reload.
Today we'll review five hated dividend payers with yields of 6.7% to 18.3% with the potential to rally when analysts change their tune.
Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS)
Dividend Yield: 6.7%
Let's start with Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS), an investment manager that provides mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds (CEFs), insurance funds, separately managed accounts and more.
This is no Vanguard or Fidelity. Its $160 billion or so in assets under management (AUM) is a fraction of what the big boys handle, and most readers might not recognize the name.
But Virtus still stands out because of its structure. It's a partnership of numerous boutique investment advisers, which means different funds under the Virtus name are often managed by different groups.
This company peaked in late 2021 amid the broader market's roaring recovery. Since then, however, it has lost nearly 60% of its value, reflecting slowdowns on both the top and bottom lines. This year might not be any different, with the pros looking for single-digit declines in both revenues and profits.
Part of the issue has been weak performance in some of Virtus' most important funds. But there's also the overall nature of its products--Virtus is a predominantly actively managed (read: higher-fee) outfit in an age when most investors are looking for passive, low-fee ways to invest.
Wall Street's not high on this stock as a result. A common thread among hated stocks is that they're also poorly covered stocks--many analysts prefer to simply drop coverage of a company rather than irk management by telling people to sell. That's the case with VRTS, which has just four covering analysts. One says it's a Buy, one calls it a Hold, and the other two are Sells. For however tame that might sound, that's an ugly split in the stock-research world.
Virtus does have a handful of contrarian appeals, though.
Shares trade for a paper-thin 5.5 times next year's earnings estimates. The dividend has exploded by more than 400% over the past decade, and that includes a near-doubling over the past five years alone. That payout is safe, too, at less than 40% of next year's earnings. And the company has made numerous acquisitions (such as Alphasimplex, AGI and Stone Harbor) in hopes of sparking longer-term growth.
Alexander's (ALX)
Dividend Yield: 7.6%
Alexander's (ALX) is a REIT that operates exclusively in the greater New York City metropolitan area. It's technically classified as an office landlord, though its properties also include retail and residential space. Vornado Realty Trust (VNO), which predominantly operates in the Big Apple (but also owns one property in each of Chicago and San Francisco), owns a 32.4% stake and also manages the company, which means ALX owes it annual management fees and occasionally development fees.
The most important thing to know about Alexander's is just how concentrated it is. ALX has just five properties under its umbrella--and it's about to be four. In March, the company entered an agreement to sell its Rego Park I property to Northwell Health for $202 million in net proceeds.
So, in a nutshell:
Alexander's already-tiny real estate roster is somehow getting smaller.
Despite its small portfolio, the company still has external management expenses.
ALX earned $10.82 per share over the trailing 12 months and is expected to earn $12.08 per share across 2026, but it's on pace to pay out almost 50% more than that ($18 per share) in dividends.
Shares trade around 19 times next year's AFFO estimates.
The stock is down to one lone analyst who says we should Sell.
No Greatness From Alexander's Since Its Last Dividend Hike in 2018
I pointed out Alexander's loathed status on Wall Street back in November. Since then, it has put together a 15% gain, but it has done so by fattening an already hefty valuation.
If ALX continues to rise from here, it will be defying gravity--and sanity.
ConAgra Brands (CAG)
Dividend Yield: 10.0%
Companies selling pantry and household basics are not popular right now. I recently highlighted how sector-wide pain had driven up consumer staples yields, but it's not just shareholders who are selling--analysts think we should unload those stocks, too. Wall Street's most-hated list includes a ton of sector names, including Kraft Heinz (KHC), Campbell's Soup (CPB) and General Mills (GIS), the last of which I identified as a prime GLP-1 victim.
But the worst-rated of the group right now is Conagra Brands (CAG), which has gone from a reasonably high yielder to a sky-high payday for the wrong reason: a multiyear cratering in shares.
CAG Is Paying 2x Its Historical Dividend Ceiling
Conagra owns a broad portfolio of packaged food brands, including Banquet, Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, Vlasic, Duncan Hines, Slim Jim, Reddi-Wip, and more. It also has a foodservice business that offers more diversification than most grocery-anchored staples names.
But it has been taking blows from all sides: GLP-1 adoption. Soaring input costs. Cuts to SNAP. Encroachment by private-label brands. Its top and bottom lines have been contracting, and the pros expect more of the same over the next couple years.
Understandably, the pros don't love it. A dozen analysts covering Conagra say investors should stay on the sidelines; two call it a Buy, and four say it's a Sell. Consider this a "bearish Hold"; analysts overcorrect toward being bullish, which means even Holds have a negative connotation, making this a very bearish consensus.
The dividend is in doubt. The payout represents about 80% of next year's (lower) earnings estimates, which by itself doesn't signal an immediate threat--plenty of defensive companies can manage at that level. However, 1.) it doesn't give CAG much room to explore M&A to reposition its portfolio, and 2.) that's well above Conagra's stated target ratio range of 50% to 55%.
Western Union (WU)
Dividend Yield: 10.5%
Western Union (WU) was founded as a telegraph service, and its core business today is money transfers in an age of PayPal and Venmo.
It seems like such a dead company from 10,000 feet that Wall Street's view--it has 10 Holds, just 1 Buy, and six Sells on the stock--almost seems too optimistic.
But credit where credit is due: Western Union has been scrapping hard to remain relevant.
Its "Evolve 2025" initiative is standard corporate fare: new products and improvements, as well as operational efficiencies.
However, in April 2025, it spent $77 million on foreign-exchange specialist Eurochange to further expand its "Travel Money" unit.
It made a bigger splash that summer with a $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. (The deal is expected to close in mid-2026.)
WU has also begun to lean heavily into digital assets. It very recently launched its own "USDPT" stablecoin alongside its Digital Asset Network, the latter of which will help people with partnered cryptocurrency wallets cash out across Western Union's network of 380,000 agents. A Visa-branded prepaid USD "stable card" is expected to launch later this year, will let consumers hold value in Western Union's USDPT and spend it globally.
The question is whether all of this will help counter the secular decline of its cash-based money-transfer business. One promising sign? Revenues are expected to improve by mid-single-digits this year and next, and while profits are expected to remain virtually flat for the fourth straight year, the pros now see a 10% bump in the bottom line for 2027.
Can Western Union Finally Stop the Long Bleed?
Prospect Capital (PSEC)
Dividend Yield: 18.3%
Prospect Capital (PSEC) has a lot of headline stats that are hard to ignore. It pays more than 18% right now. It's a monthly dividend stock, to boot. And it trades at a wild 60% discount to its net asset value (NAV), making it one of the cheapest business development companies (BDCs) on the market.
On the other hand ...
4 Dividend Cuts and Barely Breakeven Returns in 12 Years
It was already a miserable history to overcome, and it got even worse of late, with Prospect Capital taking another slice out of its dividend in early May.
Wall Street is fed up. Only one analyst covers PSEC anymore, and they think we're better off without it.
However, despite its steep losses of the past few years, PSEC is still one of the larger BDCs by both market cap ($1.2 billion) and net assets ($3 billion).
Prospect has a diverse portfolio of 89 companies across 31 industries, though I should point out that's a couple dozen fewer investments than it had less than a year ago. The company is in the midst of trying to transform its portfolio--it has been increasing its first lien mix (72%) and reducing its second lien senior and secured loans (12.4% of the portfolio at cost). It has also fully unloaded its CLO equity portfolio and exited several real estate properties.
PSEC is also much more defensively positioned for the current market moment, with just 3% software-industry exposure versus a peer average of 23%.
These moves might eventually bear fruit, but Prospect Capital is a "show me" stock given its past, and so far, it's not showing much. PSEC has reported year-over-year declines in quarterly net interest income across all three quarters of its current fiscal year, it's pacing for an 8% drop in profits for the full year, and its cash payout has been cut down yet again.
Monthly Dividends of 9%+ We Can Actually Count On!
Rock-solid 2% or 3% yielders are a dime a dozen. It's easy to pay a modest dividend without breaking the bank.
We have to be a lot more selective about sky-high payers like we discussed above. Far fewer companies can pay us 8%, 9% or more, and some of them are very dangerous dividend landmines just waiting to blow up your portfolio.
But not all of them.
If you're a long-term investor who wants those juicy payouts coming in month after month, you'd be hard-pressed to find better picks than the low-drama high yielders in my "9%+ Monthly Payer Portfolio."
The name is all about yield and income frequency, but my research is about collecting those paychecks without losing a wink of sleep. I've searched far and wide to find true "Steady Eddie" holdings that aren't stretching to write those checks--these are well-covered dividends.
You also won't need to worry about bleeding your nest egg dry. While many retirement plans require you to tap your savings over time, the income this portfolio can generate is so rich, it can sustain a retirement on dividends alone.
Here's the math: A mere $600,000 nest egg--less than half of what most financial gurus insist you need to retire--put to work in this powerful portfolio could generate a $54,000 annual income stream.
That's $4,500 every month in regular income checks!
Even better? While the current bull run to record highs has many stocks priced for perfection, many of these monthly dividend stocks still remain in our "buy zone" ... but they might not be for much longer. So click here to learn everything you need about these generous monthly dividend payers right now!
Also see:
Warren Buffett Dividend Stocks
Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats
Future Dividend Aristocrats: Close Contenders
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Is Wall Street's Trash Our Treasure? 5 Outcasts Yielding up to 18.3%

Key Points
Solana is experiencing falling prices and legal problems.
Both of those things will probably resolve at some point.
Financial institutions onboarding to the chain is a bright spot right now.
Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) has shed about 48% of its value in just the last six months. The meme coin frenzy that once powered Solana's trading activity has become a reputational liability, and the broader crypto sell-off since October 2025 has compounded the damage substantially.
But declaring the blockchain a lost cause as an investment would be hasty. The network's technical roadmap and institutional partnerships tell a more complex story than the price chart suggests. Here's what's dragging the coin down, and what could pull it back up over the next couple of years.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
The meme coin shadow isn't fading quickly
Much of Solana's pain traces back to Pump.fun, the meme coin launchpad project that became the network's most visible product.
Pump.fun has facilitated the launch of over 11.9 million meme tokens since its inception in 2024, but, at least according to blockchain analytics company Solidus Labs, approximately 98.6% of those showed rug-pull behavior, the unethical but common practice of creators draining liquidity and leaving buyers with worthless coins. A federal court has since approved a class action lawsuit against Pump.fun, Solana Labs, and other linked projects, alleging market manipulation at the network level.
So there's now a significant legal problem as well as an unsavory and unserious reputation weighing Solana down. Both could take years to fully resolve.
The financial consequences might not be favorable; spot Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which launched in late 2025, saw total net assets peak above $1.2 billion in January, before collapsing and then eventually recovering to just $937.8 million by May 8. Total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (DeFi) on the chain has declined from a September 2025 all-time high of $13 billion to around $5.5 billion as of this writing.
When a blockchain's most prominent applications are associated with fraud, real capital tends to stay away.
The infrastructure is still first-class
The appeal of Solana's technology hasn't collapsed alongside its price. If anything, it's getting better, which is attracting important businesses to the chain.
Western Union is launching a dollar-backed stablecoin on the chain, and J.P.Morgan Chase's asset management arm is developing a stablecoin reserve infrastructure on Solana. These are two signals about the future of cryptocurrency infrastructure that have nothing at all to do with meme coin speculation.
Of course, these players building on Solana don't make the coin a comfortable purchase today. The legal risks from the Pump.fun lawsuit are real, and the coin has demonstrated it can fall much further than most holders anticipate. For investors weighing whether cryptocurrency is a good investment, Solana lands near the riskier end of the spectrum.
But a coin attracting this caliber of institutional engagement isn't heading toward zero. There's a credible path to recovery, so don't give up on Solana.
Should you buy stock in Solana right now?
Before you buy stock in Solana, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Solana wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $471,827!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,319,291!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 986% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 207% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of May 9, 2026.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Alex Carchidi has positions in Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Down 48% in 6 Months, Is There Any Hope for Solana?

Key Points
The firm added 738,789 shares of Western Union.
At quarter-end, the fund holds nearly 1.1 million valued at $9.5 million
The new stake represents 2.3 of the fund's AUM.
According to an SEC filing dated April 24, TSP Capital Management Group, LLC disclosed a buy of Western Union (NYSE:WU) shares.
Added 738,789 shares of Western Unio
Post-trade, the fund holds 1,091,864 shares valued at $9.5 million
The new stake represents 2.3% of the fund’s AUM, which places it outside the fund's top five holdings
What else to know
Top holdings after the filing:
NYSE: CDE: $32.6 million (8.0% of AUM)
NYSE: BVN: $25.0 million (6.1% of AUM)
NASDAQ: ADEA: $24.3 million (5.9% of AUM)
NYSEMKT: TMQ: $24.2 million (5.9% of AUM)
NYSE: CIG: $21.8 million (5.3% of AUM)
Company overview
Revenue (TTM)
$4.0 billion
Net income (TTM)
$440.8 million
Dividend yield
10.6%
Price (as of market close April 24)
$8.90
Company snapshot
Western Union provides international money transfer and payment services, operating through a broad agent network and digital platforms. It seeks to use its scale and established brand to enable efficient cross-border transactions for both consumers and businesses.
Offers global money transfer, payment, and foreign exchange services, including consumer-to-consumer transfers, business payments, bill payment, and money orders.
Serves individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and organizations requiring cross-border or domestic money movement solutions.
Generates revenue primarily from transaction fees and foreign exchange spreads, leveraging a network of agents, digital channels, and business partnerships.
What this transaction means for investors
TSP Capital aggressively purchased Western Union shares in the first quarter. The firm tripled its share ownership to nearly 1.1 million shares. With a $9.5 million value as of March 31, the stake represented 2.3% of its reported AUM.
This confidence comes as Western Union shares haven’t performed well over the last year. Through April 24, the stock price lost 12.2%. That severely underperformed the S&P 500 index’s 29.7% gain.
The company does have a large dividend yield, helping produce a better total return. Still, Western Union’s 2.5% loss after factoring in dividends pales in comparison to the S&P 500’s 31.3% return.
Western Union’s stock current yield 10.6%. Still, with a payout ratio of 95%, the company will have to grow revenue and profits over time. Otherwise, investors, who have seen steady dividend payouts, could face the prospect of a lower payment down the line.
Should you buy stock in Western Union right now?
Before you buy stock in Western Union, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Western Union wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,276,807!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 26, 2026.
Lawrence Rothman, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.