This Old Name Has Big Prospects

Article Excerpt

Many investors limit their holdings in the Finance sector to well-established banks. However, much of the world still operates on a cash basis. As well, the increasing migration of workers to faster-growing economies has spurred strong demand for reliable money-transfer services. Western Union is the world’s largest provider of cash transfers. Its strong reputation and large international network should continue to give it a competitive advantage in a growing market. THE WESTERN UNION CO. $28 (New York symbol WU; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 740.0 million; Market cap: $20.7 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) provides money transfer and foreign exchange services. It operates in more than 200 countries through a network of 335,000 agents, such as post offices, banks and retailers. Over 80% of Western Union’s agents are located outside of the United States. The company began operations in 1851, and was one of the original 11 companies included in the Dow Jones average. In recent years, Western Union was a..