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Global Payments Jumps After $2.5 Billion Buyback, Dividend and Upbeat 2026 Guide

The payments firm capped a portfolio overhaul that sharpened its focus on merchant solutions.

Overview

  • Shares rose roughly 16–17% to about $81 after Q4 results, new capital returns, and guidance were announced.
  • Q4 adjusted EPS reached $3.18 versus $3.16 expected, with adjusted net revenue of $2.32 billion and a 44.7% adjusted operating margin, up 80 basis points year over year.
  • The board approved up to $2.5 billion in repurchases, including a $550 million accelerated buyback, and confirmed a $0.25 quarterly dividend payable March 30 to holders of record March 9.
  • 2026 adjusted EPS is guided to $13.80–$14.00, implying 13–15% growth, with about 5% constant‑currency adjusted net revenue growth and roughly 150 basis points of margin expansion.
  • Global Payments completed the Worldpay acquisition and closed the sale of Issuer Solutions to FIS, and it expects to return more than $2 billion to shareholders in 2026, staying on track for $7.5 billion by end‑2027.