Liquidity Services (LQDT) vs Western Union (WU)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Liquidity Services (LQDT) has outperformed Western Union (WU) over the past year, gaining 82.4% versus a loss of 24.2%. Over five years, LQDT leads with a +110.7% price change compared with -71.2% for WU. Western Union is the larger company by market cap ($1.91 billion vs $1.35 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Western Union trades at a lower forward P/E (4.1x vs 23.4x for Liquidity Services). Western Union pays a dividend yielding 15.36%, while Liquidity Services 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 | LQDT | WU |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $43.13 | $6.12 |
| Market cap | $1.35B | $1.91B |
| 1-day change | +2.37% | -3.32% |
| YTD return | +42.30% | -34.26% |
| 1-year return | +82.45% | -24.16% |
| 5-year return | +110.70% | -71.21% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 42.28 | 5.14 |
| Forward P/E | 23.44 | 4.06 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.02 | $1.19 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 15.36% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.94 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $4.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | -3.78% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $499.60M |
| Gross margin | — | 37.03% |
| Operating margin | — | 18.70% |
| Net margin | — | 12.33% |
| 52-week high | $45.00 | $10.35 |
| 52-week low | $21.67 | $5.87 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.16% | -40.87% |
| Analyst consensus | none | underperform |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.25% | +11.11% |
| Average volume | 230.84K | 10.07M |
| Shares outstanding | 31.33M | 311.88M |
| Employees | 818 | 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
- LQDT has outperformed WU by 106.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Liquidity Services trades at a higher earnings multiple (42.3x vs 5.1x trailing P/E).
- Western Union offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (15.36% vs 0.00%).
About Liquidity Services
LQDT stock →Liquidity Services, Inc. engages in the provision of e-commerce marketplaces, self-directed auction listing tools, and value-added services in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 818 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
LQDT vs WU FAQ
Which is bigger, Liquidity Services or Western Union?
Western Union (WU) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.91B compared with $1.35B for Liquidity Services (LQDT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LQDT or WU?
LQDT returned +82.45% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.16% for WU (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LQDT or WU?
WU has the lower trailing P/E at 5.1, versus 42.3 for LQDT. 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, Liquidity Services or Western Union?
Western Union pays a dividend yielding 15.36%, while Liquidity Services does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Liquidity Services and Western Union in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Business Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.