Associate Senior SDET Analyst

Global Payments, a merchant acquirer intermediary between retailers and banks, trades at 4.9 times forward earnings — well below its five-year average of 15 times and competitors like Fiserv and PayPal. The stock has fallen over 65% in five years. The Atlanta-based company became the largest US merchant acquirer after acquiring Worldpay in January, serving 6 million locations and processing 94 billion transactions worth $4 trillion annually. It's restructuring with help from activist investor Elliott Management, consolidating point-of-sale products into its Genius platform. Global Payments expects 5% adjusted net revenue growth in fiscal 2026 and plans to repurchase $7.5 billion in shares by end-2027. The company projects generating $5 billion in adjusted free cash flow by 2028, potentially attracting private equity interest for a leveraged buyout.

How top U.S. Acquirers ranking changed following acquisitions. There's a new top U.S. merchant acquirer. Global Payments Inc., with an estimated $2.8 trillion in 2025 U.S. processing volume, has moved into the top spot in the 2026 TSG Directory of U.S. Merchant Acquirers, unseating JPMorgan Chase & Co., which had held the top rank since at least the 2023 edition. JPMorgan Chase, with $2.5 trillion in estimated processing volume, holds the second spot, followed by Fiserv at $2.2 trillion. Global's rise to first place stems primarily from its acquisition of Worldpay, says Alex Ferguson, product manager at Omaha, Neb.-based TSG, a payments advisory. Worldpay held the number-three spot in the 2025 TSG directory with an estimated volume, for 2024, of $1.9 trillion. Global closed on its $24.5 billion acquisition of Worldpay in January. Filling out the top 10 are Stripe, at $902.5 billion; Wells Fargo, $675 billion; PayPal, $585 billion; Elavon, the acquiring unit of U.S. Bank, at $442 billion; Bank of America, $428.7 billion; Adyen, $316 billion; and Block, at $200.2 billion. With Worldpay no longer standing as a separate entry, Stripe jumped from the seventh position in 2025 to fourth. Elavon went from ninth to seventh, and Adyen advanced from 10th to ninth. Block is a new member of the top 10. The Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and PayPal rankings are unchanged. Overall, the top 10 processed almost $11 trillion in transactions in 2025, up from $10.7 trillion in 2024. Diversification of sales channels is certainly helping these large acquirers, but they're not alone. That trend extends farther into the broader base of acquirers, Ferguson says. "Eighty-two percent of the top-50 listed acquirers were identified as selling through the integrated/independent software vendor channel versus 72% last year," Ferguson tells Digital Transactions News in an email. "Providers like Stripe and Toast that focus almost exclusively on [software-as-a-service] and ISV-enabled merchants continue to be the largest [year-over-year] growers of nominal payment volume. Stripe alone will very likely eclipse $1 trillion in U.S. sourced payment volume in 2026," he says. Not all acquirers, however, have the vast resources of these larger ones. Smaller independent sales organizations, which once were quick adopters of zero-cost processing and surcharging programs, now find the rest of the industry has caught up, and offerings are similar across most providers, Ferguson says. "The largest acquirers continue to become comprehensive platforms for merchants of all shapes and sizes that bucket every value-added service conceivable. Simply, smaller providers see their competitive advantage become smaller with several options for merchants in the market," he says. What might distinguish smaller payments providers is having a local presence and being available, though product diversity remains important, Ferguson suggests. "There's always a benefit to being the local and always-available provider, but if these merchants are successful, and continue to grow to markets beyond the local area, attrition occurs as smaller providers lack the omnichannel capabilities to remain competitive."

Shift Connect Ltd. acquires Olympia Currency and Global Payments, elevating international banking solutions for clients across Canada. PR Newswire Today at 5:00am PDT CALGARY, AB, March 24, 2026 /CNW/ - Shift Connect Ltd., a leading Canadian provider of foreign exchange and global payment services, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Olympia Currency and Global Payments, an established Alberta-based firm recognized for its personalized approach to international banking and cross-border currency solutions. This acquisition brings together two highly respected companies, combining decades of experience, trusted client relationships, and advanced financial technology. The result is a stronger, more capable offering for clients who rely on efficient, secure, and responsive international payment solutions. For Olympia clients, this transition represents a meaningful enhancement. Clients will continue working with the same trusted team and relationships they value today, now supported by Shift Connect's capabilities, deeper global banking network, and advanced technology infrastructure. "We're excited to welcome Olympia and its clients to Shift Connect," said David Kelcher, CEO of Shift Connect. "There is strong alignment between our organizations in how we approach service, relationships, and results. By bringing our platforms and expertise together, we're able to deliver a more powerful, seamless experience while preserving the high-touch service Olympia clients expect." "This is a natural evolution for our business and our clients," said Neil McCullah, President of Olympia Global Payments. "Our clients will continue to receive the same level of personalized service they've come to rely on, now complemented by an expanded platform and global reach." The combined organization further strengthens Alberta's position as a hub for modern financial services, supporting businesses and individuals navigating increasingly complex global markets. The transaction is subject to Bank of Canada approval under the Retail Payment Activities Act (Canada) and customary closing conditions, with completion anticipated on or before March 31, 2026. SOURCE Shift Connect This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact PR Newswire directly.