Global Payments provides payment technology and software solutions to merchants globally.
It is a leading fintech company distinguished by its integrated commerce platform that combines payments with value-added software services.
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Based on the technical analysis, GPN is in a pronounced downtrend and is deeply oversold after a significant price deterioration. While this suggests potential for a rebound from current levels, the stock has yet to show meaningful recovery and continues to lag the broader market substantially.
Fundamentally, the company showcases solid revenue growth and a remarkable improvement in profitability, with net income margins expanding significantly. Its valuation appears compelling, trading at low earnings multiples and below book value, while the extremely low PEG ratio indicates the market is pricing in very strong future earnings growth. However, concerns around operational efficiency and short-term liquidity need monitoring.
Considering the attractive valuation, improved profitability, and oversold technical condition, GPN presents a potential opportunity for investors seeking turnaround candidates. While risks remain, particularly regarding its downtrend and liquidity, the current price level appears to discount much of the negative sentiment. For investors with a medium-to-long-term horizon and higher risk tolerance, initiating a position could be warranted.
Recommendation: BUY
*Please note: This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your financial situation before making any investment decisions.*
Based on the provided analysis, here is a 12-month outlook for GPN:
GPN's outlook is a tale of conflicting signals, offering a high-risk/high-reward opportunity for turnaround investors. The primary catalyst for a rebound is the stock's deeply oversold technical condition combined with a compelling valuation (low P/E, PEG, and trading below book value) and strong fundamental profitability improvements. Key risks that could prolong the downtrend include persistent operational inefficiency concerns, short-term liquidity issues, and a failure to regain positive market momentum. Given the lack of a definitive analyst target price, a reasonable 12-month target range would be $90-$110, contingent on the company demonstrating sustained operational improvements and the stock breaking its technical downtrend.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about GPN's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $77.48, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, GPN has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
GPN has exhibited significant underperformance with substantial price deterioration over the past year. The stock remains in a pronounced downtrend, having experienced a maximum drawdown exceeding 40% despite its lower-than-market volatility as indicated by its beta below 1.
Short-term performance has been weak, with the stock declining approximately 5% over one month and 11% over three months. This underperformance is accentuated by its substantial -14.51% relative strength compared to the market, indicating it has significantly lagged broader market indices during this period.
Currently trading at $77.47, GPN sits roughly 32% above its 52-week low but remains deeply oversold, positioned 32% below its 52-week high. The stock appears to be in an oversold condition given the magnitude of its recent decline and substantial maximum drawdown, though it has not yet recovered meaningfully from its lows.
| Period | GPN Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -5.6% | +1.3% |
| 3m | -6.5% | +5.7% |
| 6m | -3.9% | +10.6% |
| 1y | -28.9% | +16.5% |
| ytd | +2.6% | +1.1% |
Revenue & Profitability: GPN demonstrated solid revenue growth in Q3 2025, increasing to $2.01 billion from $1.96 billion the previous quarter. Profitability improved significantly, with the net income margin expanding to 31.6% from 12.3% in Q2, driven by stronger operating income and a substantial normalization in other expenses after a large charge in the prior quarter.
Financial Health: The company's debt position appears manageable, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67 and a satisfactory interest coverage ratio of 5.46. However, liquidity metrics are a concern, as the current ratio of 0.85 indicates potential short-term liquidity constraints, though this is somewhat mitigated by a strong cash conversion cycle of -357 days.
Operational Efficiency: GPN's operational efficiency shows mixed signals, with a relatively low return on equity of 2.8% and an asset turnover of just 0.04. The fixed asset turnover of 1.39 suggests decent utilization of long-term assets, but the overall low asset efficiency indicates room for improvement in generating revenue from the company's asset base.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardGPN appears attractively valued based on traditional multiples, with a trailing PE of 12.15 and a forward PE of just 7.84 indicating strong earnings growth expectations. The stock trades below book value at a PB of 0.81, while its PS ratio of 2.1 seems reasonable for a growth company. However, the elevated EV/EBITDA of 28.9 suggests the market is pricing in significant future cash flow growth, which is supported by the remarkably low PEG ratio of 0.05 indicating substantial expected earnings expansion.
Without industry average data for comparison, the analysis relies on absolute valuation metrics. Given GPN's combination of low earnings multiples and high growth expectations reflected in its minimal PEG ratio, the stock appears fundamentally undervalued assuming the company can deliver on its projected growth trajectory. The disparity between depressed earnings multiples and premium cash flow valuation warrants further investigation into the company's specific business model and capital structure.
Of course. Here is a risk analysis for GPN based on the provided metrics.
1. Volatility Risk
GPN exhibits moderate volatility risk. With a Beta of 0.798, the stock is theoretically less volatile than the broader market, meaning it should experience smaller swings. However, this lower Beta is contrasted by a significant maximum drawdown of -40.24% over the past year, indicating the stock has still undergone a substantial peak-to-trough decline. This suggests that while its day-to-day movements may be muted relative to the market, GPN has been susceptible to severe, concentrated periods of downward pressure, representing a notable risk for investors.
2. Other Risks
The absence of significant short interest can be interpreted as a mitigating factor, suggesting that professional speculators do not see a high probability of a near-term price decline. However, this does not eliminate fundamental or systemic risks. The primary concern beyond volatility would be liquidity risk; if trading volume is consistently low, it could lead to wider bid-ask spreads and difficulty executing large orders without impacting the stock's price, potentially amplifying losses during market downturns.
Bearish. While GPN appears fundamentally undervalued and holds long-term potential from its Worldpay acquisition, current momentum is poor and risks are elevated. The stock is in a sustained downtrend with negative analyst sentiment, and it faces significant execution risks from integrating a major acquisition. This stock is only suitable for highly patient, long-term investors with a strong risk tolerance who can withstand further volatility.
Based on the metrics provided, GPN appears to be undervalued. Its trailing P/E of 12.15 and exceptionally low forward P/E of 7.84 and PEG ratio of 0.05 are significantly below typical market averages, indicating the market prices in strong earnings growth that historical valuations don't reflect. The price-to-book ratio of 0.81 also suggests the stock trades below its asset value. This attractive valuation is supported by the company's recent surge in profitability, with a net income margin of 31.6%, though concerns about operational efficiency (ROE of 2.8%) justify some caution.
Based on the technical and fundamental information provided, here are the key risks of holding GPN stock:
1. Severe Price Deterioration and Technical Downtrend: The stock is in a pronounced technical downtrend with a maximum drawdown exceeding -40% and significant relative underperformance against the market. 2. Potential Short-Term Liquidity Pressure: The company exhibits a current ratio of 0.85, indicating it may face challenges in meeting its short-term obligations with its current assets. 3. Operational Inefficiency: The company demonstrates inefficient use of its asset base, as evidenced by a very low asset turnover ratio of 0.04, which could hinder profitability and growth.
Based on the mixed but improving fundamentals, GPN's forecast through 2026 hinges on the successful execution of its turnaround. Our base case target for 2026 is $95-$115, with a bull case of $125-$140, contingent on the stock breaking its long-term downtrend.
Key growth drivers include sustaining the recent momentum in profitability and net income margins, improving operational efficiency to boost the low return on equity and asset turnover, and resolving the near-term liquidity concerns to strengthen investor confidence.
The primary assumptions are that management will successfully address operational inefficiencies and that the compelling valuation (low P/E, trading below book value) will attract investors as improvements become evident. It is crucial to note that this forecast carries significant uncertainty and is highly sensitive to GPN's ability to demonstrate consistent quarterly execution and regain positive market momentum.