Image source: Global Payments.
What: Shares of payment processor Global Payments (GPN +0.23%) jumped on Wednesday following the company's fiscal third-quarter earnings report. Global Payments beat analyst estimates for both revenue and earnings, and its guidance called for double-digit EPS growth in fiscal 2016. The stock was up as much as 10% on Wednesday, settling to an 8.8% gain by 3:30 p.m. ET.
So what: Global Payments reported adjusted net revenue of $497 million, up 6% year over year and about $3 million higher than the average analyst estimate. On a constant currency basis, adjusted net revenue grew by 11%. GAAP revenue was $679.9 million, up 2.2% year over year. Adjusted net revenue includes an adjustment for gross-up related payments related to certain wholesale lines of business.
Non-GAAP EPS, what the company calls cash EPS, came in at $0.70, up 17% year over year, and $0.03 better than analyst expectations. Currency had a major negative effect on earnings, with cash EPS growing 28% on a constant currency basis. Turning to GAAP numbers, EPS was $0.53, up from $0.46 during the prior-year period.
Global Payments also raised its guidance for fiscal 2016 due to its strong performance during the third quarter. Constant currency adjusted net revenue is expected to grow toward the upper end of a 10%-12% range, while cash earnings are expected between $2.93 and $3.00 per share, a 16%-19% increase.
Now what: Global Payments had a solid quarter, and after a few months of languishing, the stock is once again near its 52-week high. Shares of Global Payments have surged over the past three years, more than tripling in that time.
Going forward, Global Payments expects its acquisition of Heartland Payment Systems (HPY +0.00%) to close during its fiscal fourth quarter, meaning a portion of Heartland's results may be included in Global Payments' fourth-quarter numbers. The acquisition will boost adjusted net revenue to $3 billion per year, according to the company.
While Global Payments' results weren't too far above analyst expectations, a small earnings beat and improved guidance was enough to send the stock soaring.
