Shift4 Payments (FOUR) vs Western Union (WU)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Western Union (WU) has outperformed Shift4 Payments (FOUR) over the past year, losing 25.2% versus a loss of 50.1%. Over five years, FOUR leads with a -48.5% price change compared with -71.3% for WU. Shift4 Payments is the larger company by market cap ($3.07 billion vs $1.89 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Western Union trades at a lower forward P/E (4.0x vs 6.4x for Shift4 Payments). Western Union pays a dividend yielding 15.49%, while Shift4 Payments does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | FOUR | WU |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $38.92 | $6.07 |
| Market cap | $3.07B | $1.89B |
| 1-day change | -0.18% | -0.65% |
| YTD return | -38.08% | -34.37% |
| 1-year return | -50.08% | -25.21% |
| 5-year return | -48.46% | -71.26% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 61.78 | 4.93 |
| Forward P/E | 6.42 | 4.02 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.63 | $1.23 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 15.49% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.94 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.18B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +25.49% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $119.00M | — |
| Gross margin | 34.16% | — |
| Operating margin | 8.40% | — |
| Net margin | 2.85% | — |
| 52-week high | $80.00 | $10.35 |
| 52-week low | $34.56 | $5.87 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -51.35% | -41.35% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | underperform |
| Avg. price target upside | +38.49% | +12.03% |
| Average volume | 1.83M | 9.91M |
| Shares outstanding | 78.96M | 311.88M |
| Employees | 6,300 | 9,600 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Business Services | Business Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- WU has outperformed FOUR by 24.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Shift4 Payments trades at a higher earnings multiple (61.8x vs 4.9x trailing P/E).
- Western Union offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (15.49% vs 0.00%).
About Shift4 Payments
FOUR stock →Shift4 Payments, Inc. engages in the provision of software and payment processing solutions in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 6,300 employees
About Western Union
WU stock →The Western Union Company provides money movement payments, and digital financial services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 9,600 employees
FOUR vs WU FAQ
Which is bigger, Shift4 Payments or Western Union?
Shift4 Payments (FOUR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.07B compared with $1.89B for Western Union (WU).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FOUR or WU?
WU returned -25.21% over the past 12 months, compared with -50.08% for FOUR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FOUR or WU?
WU has the lower trailing P/E at 4.9, versus 61.8 for FOUR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Shift4 Payments or Western Union?
Western Union pays a dividend yielding 15.49%, while Shift4 Payments does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Shift4 Payments and Western Union in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Business Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.