Stock market trading: Western Union reports higher revenue and earnings

Western Union, symbol WU on New York, provides money-transfer and foreign-exchange services in over 200 countries and territories. You can get our full stock market trading advice on Western Union in our Wall Street Stock Forecaster newsletter. In the 2011 first quarter, Western Union reported revenue of $1.3 billion. That’s up 4.1% from $1.2 billion in the comparable 2010 period. The company earned $210.2 million, in the first quarter of 2011, up 1.1% from $207.9 million a year earlier. During the quarter, Western Union spent $525.2 million to buy back shares. Because of fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 6.7%, to $0.32 from $0.30. If you exclude restructuring expenses, the company earned $0.35 in the latest quarter. Revenue growth was strong in the Asia Pacific region, the Americas and much of Europe. The company is continuing to expand its electronic services and add to it product portfolio. Western Union recently signed agreements to expand its online money transfer services. New agreements in the Middle East and Africa are adding new agents for cash mobile services. You can get our clear buy/sell/hold advice on Western Union and dozens of other U.S. stock market trading picks when you subscribe to Wall Street Stock Forecaster. What’s more, you can get the latest issue absolutely free. Click here to learn how.

Jim is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for The Successful Investor and Wall Street Stock Forecaster and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Jim has held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation since 1992 and spent more than a decade at the Financial Post DataGroup before joining TSI Network. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.