Global Payments Inc. today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

“We are pleased to have delivered our best first quarter in four years, exceeding our expectations to start 2023,” said Jeff Sloan, Chief Executive Officer. “Both of our key businesses posted exceptional results. Our merchant business proved highly resilient as we saw accelerated growth across a number of worldwide markets and ongoing stability despite incremental macroeconomic distractions. And our core issuer business improved 340 basis points sequentially and delivered its highest rate of year-over-year growth in more than five years. This performance reflects the wisdom of our long term strategies and our consistent focus on execution.

“We accomplished these results while turning the page on the strategic initiatives we have been executing over the last 12 plus months. First, we are delighted to have closed our acquisition of EVO Payments in late March, and we are off to a strong start with our integration activities. Second, we are pleased to announce the successful closing of the sale of our Netspend consumer business in late April. Third, we completed the divestiture of the Gaming Solutions business immediately following the end of the first quarter.”

Sloan concluded, “These transactions serve to better align our businesses with our strategy, simplify our portfolio, sharpen our focus on core corporate clients and provide us with enhanced confidence in our growth and margin targets. We are delighted to raise our outlook for the full year following the outstanding financial and operating performance we produced in the first quarter.”

First Quarter 2023 Summary

• GAAP revenues were $2.29 billion, compared to $2.16 billion in 2022; diluted (loss) earnings per share were $(0.04) compared to $0.87 in the prior year; and operating margin was 2.5% compared to 17.4% in the prior year.
• Adjusted net revenues increased 5% (7% constant currency) to $2.05 billion, compared to $1.95 billion in 2022; excluding the impact of dispositions and the acquisition of EVO Payments, adjusted net revenue increased 9% on a constant currency basis.
• Adjusted earnings per share increased 16% (18% constant currency) to $2.40, compared to $2.07 in 2022.
• Adjusted operating margin expanded 200 basis points to 43.1%.

2023 Outlook

“We are pleased with our strong financial performance in the first quarter, which exceeded our expectations despite ongoing macro concerns,” said Josh Whipple, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Based on our strong performance and continuing momentum, we are raising our guidance for calendar 2023.

“The company now expects adjusted net revenue to be in a range of $8.635 billion to $8.735 billion, reflecting growth of 7% to 8% over 2022 (an increase from 6% to 7% previously), and adjusted earnings per share to be in a range of $10.32 to $10.44, reflecting growth of 11% to 12% over 2022 (up from 10% to 11% previously), or 16% to 17% excluding dispositions. We continue to expect adjusted operating margin for 2023 to expand by up to 120 basis points.”

Whipple concluded, “Our 2023 outlook reflects the now completed execution of all three of our previously announced strategic transactions and assumes a worldwide macroeconomic backdrop that is consistent with the current environment throughout the remainder of the calendar year.”