Global Payments Inc. ( GPN ) shares are trading lower in the premarket session on Thursday.

The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.95 (+12% constant currency), missing the street view of $2.96. Quarterly sales of $2.289 billion missed the analyst consensus estimate of $2.305 billion.

“2024 was a pivotal year for Global Payments ( GPN ) as we launched our broad transformation agenda to set the future course for our business,” said CEO Cameron Bready.

Adjusted net revenues increased 5% (6.5% constant currency excluding dispositions), compared to $2.19 billion in the year-ago period.

Merchant Solutions rose 5.5% to $1.76 billion, and Issuer Solutions increased 2.2% to $542.099 million.

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Operating income increased 67.1% year over year to $833.148 million, while adjusted operating income rose 5.7% to $1.03 billion. Adjusted operating margin expanded 40 basis points to 45.2%.

Bready continued, “We now expect to deliver more than $600 million of annual run-rate operating income benefits through our transformation by the first half of 2027.”

The company exited the quarter with cash and equivalents worth $2.538 billion.

Global Payments’ long-term debt in the quarter under review contracted to $15.164 billion, from $15.692 billion a year ago.

The company entered into $250 million accelerated share repurchase plan/

Outlook: Global Payments ( GPN ) expects FY25 adjusted revenue growth of 5%-6%, compared to the $9.43 billion estimate.

The company also anticipates adjusted EPS growth of 10%-11%, compared to the $12.72 estimate.

“Annual adjusted operating margin is expected to expand 50 basis points excluding dispositions. We also expect to return approximately $2 billion to shareholders during the year,” said Josh Whipple, chief financial officer. 

Price Action: Global Payments ( GPN ) shares are trading lower by 0.51% ro $108.28 premarket at last check Thursday.

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