TLDR

  • On Wednesday, Global Payments (GPN) shares surged nearly 17% after surpassing Q4 earnings expectations
  • The company reported adjusted EPS of $3.18, slightly beating the consensus of $3.16
  • The board approved a $2.5 billion share repurchase plan, which includes a $550 million accelerated buyback
  • For 2026, adjusted EPS guidance is set at $13.80–$14.00, outperforming analyst estimates of $13.78
  • Following the completion of the Worldpay acquisition and the divestiture of Issuer Solutions in Q4, the company is now a pure-play merchant solutions provider

Shares of Global Payments (GPN) soared by nearly 17% on Wednesday, as the fintech announced Q4 earnings that exceeded forecasts and provided a positive 2026 outlook featuring a $2.5 billion stock buyback initiative.

The stock price rose from approximately $69 to $81.27 by the closing bell, marking one of the most significant single-day rallies the company has experienced in recent times.

For the fourth quarter of 2025, Global Payments recorded an adjusted EPS of $3.18, narrowly topping the analyst consensus of $3.16. This represents an increase from $2.85 in Q4 2024, though it is a slight dip from the $3.26 reported in the preceding quarter.

GPN Stock Card

Adjusted net revenue for the quarter totaled $2.32 billion, in line with market expectations. This figure is up 1% year-over-year but represents a decrease from the $2.43 billion recorded in Q3 2025.

Merchant Solutions, currently the company’s primary business, generated adjusted net revenue of $1.78 billion. This was relatively unchanged compared to Q4 2024 but declined from $1.89 billion in the third quarter.

Issuer Solutions generated $557.1 million in adjusted net revenue, compared to $530.1 million in the prior-year period. Since Q2 2025, this segment has been classified as discontinued operations following its announced sale to Fidelity National Information Services (FIS).

The adjusted operating margin for Q4 grew by 80 basis points year-over-year to reach 44.7%.

$2.5 Billion Buyback and Dividend Confirmed

The board has authorized the repurchase of up to $2.5 billion in company stock, with $550 million designated for immediate repurchase via an accelerated share repurchase agreement.

CEO Cameron Bready stated that the company is maintaining its trajectory to return $7.5 billion to shareholders by the end of 2027, a goal established during the 2024 investor conference.

Additionally, the board ratified a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, consistent with the payout level maintained since September 2021. The dividend yields approximately 1.2% and is scheduled to be paid on March 30 to shareholders of record as of March 9.

In 2026, Global Payments anticipates returning over $2 billion to shareholders through a mix of buybacks and dividends.

2026 Guidance Tops Street Estimates

Looking at the full year 2026, the company projects adjusted EPS to land between $13.80 and $14.00, reflecting growth of 13% to 15% over 2025. This outlook surpasses the consensus analyst estimate of $13.78.

Excluding dispositions, constant currency adjusted net revenue is forecast to grow by about 5%. This is a notable increase compared to the 1.8% growth seen in 2025.

The adjusted operating margin is expected to expand by roughly 150 basis points.

The 2026 guidance arrives as Global Payments concludes a major restructuring phase. During Q4, the company finalized the Worldpay acquisition and the divestiture of Issuer Solutions to FIS, allowing it to focus exclusively on merchant solutions.

The Q4 adjusted operating margin of 44.7% shows an 80 basis point improvement from the previous year, a performance the company intends to improve upon in 2026.