- ISC Hires Michael Ferber as Chief Operating Officer
May 12, 2026
Ferber to lead scalable, tech-enabled platforms and transformation initiatives to drive growth and streamline operations
CARLSBAD, Calif., May 12, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Integrated Specialty Coverages (ISC), a leading MGA, today announced the appointment of Michael Ferber as Chief Operating Officer. Ferber, based in Colorado, will lead ISC's technology, platform, data, and customer-facing operations, and is responsible for building the enterprise operating model that supports the company's continued growth and operational scale.
In this role, Ferber is accountable for the consistency, quality, and speed with which ISC delivers across its business units, aligning people, process, and technology to scale execution as the company grows organically and through acquisition.
Ferber brings more than 30 years of operational and technology leadership, most recently at Marsh McLennan. As President of Victor Small Business (formerly Dovetail), he led significant growth in net operating income, drove substantial reductions in operating expenses, and launched Marsh's first customer-facing AI capability. Previously, as Chief Information Officer at ICAT, he led the operational and technology turnaround of the MGA, dramatically improved Net Promoter Score, and delivered a first-of-its-kind digital experience in commercial catastrophe insurance.
"We're building something differentiated at ISC, and Mike's leadership will help accelerate that vision," said Matt Grossberg, CEO of ISC. "He brings the operational discipline, technology depth, and integration experience to scale our platform, advance our AI strategy, and position us for long-term growth."
"I've spent 30 years proving that technology and operational discipline, done right, create real business value," said Ferber. "ISC is the right place to do that again."
About Integrated Specialty Coverages
Integrated Specialty Coverages (ISC) is a leading, multi-line program administrator and MGA dedicated to underwriting excellence, client service, and customer experience. ISC has built an end-to-end insurance platform that connects a broad network of insurance markets and distribution channels with proprietary data analytics capabilities, using sophisticated technology to transform how complex programs are underwritten and operated. ISC's strategy combines strategic M&A, data-driven decision-making, and an innovative delivery approach to give partners high-quality service, competitive commissions, and creative product options across any line or class of business. Learn more at https://iscmga.com/.
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512857372/en/
Contacts
email: brenda.fletcher@iscmga.com
phone: 888-531-4722 ext. 706
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- A Look At Marsh & McLennan (MRSH) Valuation After A Year Of Weaker Shareholder Returns
May 11, 2026
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Recent performance context
Marsh & McLennan Companies (MRSH) has attracted attention after a stretch of weaker returns, with the stock down 1% over the past day, 4% over the past week, and 11% year to date.
Over the past month the stock declined about 4%, and over the past 3 months it fell roughly 8%, while the 1 year total return is down 27%. This has put recent trading firmly in focus for investors.
See our latest analysis for Marsh & McLennan Companies.
With the share price at $161.58 and the 1 year total shareholder return down 27%, recent weakness builds on a broader loss of momentum, which may indicate that investors are reassessing both growth prospects and risk.
If you are weighing Marsh & McLennan Companies against other opportunities, this could be a good moment to see what else is setting up in markets through 19 top founder-led companies
With Marsh & McLennan Companies showing weaker recent returns but trading at a discount to some valuation estimates, investors may need to consider whether the stock is now undervalued or whether the current price already reflects expectations for future growth.
Most Popular Narrative: 20.4% Undervalued
Against the last close at $161.58, the most followed narrative places Marsh & McLennan Companies' fair value at $203.10, setting up a clear valuation gap for investors to weigh.
Strategic investments in digital transformation, advanced analytics, and AI (for example, proprietary data tools for risk modeling and agentic interfaces) are expected to enhance operational efficiency and improve product and service offerings, enabling margin expansion and net earnings growth through improved client retention and lower cost to serve.
Read the complete narrative.
Want to see how this digital push is wired into the numbers? The narrative leans on a detailed earnings, margin, and multiple roadmap that is anything but casual.
Result: Fair Value of $203.10 (UNDERVALUED)
Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts.
However, this hinges on softer consulting demand not turning into a deeper slowdown, and on acquisitions like McGriff avoiding cost overruns or weaker than expected synergies.
Find out about the key risks to this Marsh & McLennan Companies narrative.
Another View: Earnings Multiple Sends A Different Signal
Our DCF model points to a fair value of $282.30 per share, which is well above the current $161.58 price and implies Marsh & McLennan Companies looks undervalued on future cash flows. That sits uncomfortably alongside a P/E of 19.8x, which screens as expensive versus the US Insurance industry at 11.2x and also above an estimated fair ratio of 13.5x. For you, the question is which signal carries more weight: long term cash flows, or what the market usually pays for this level of earnings?
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Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.MRSH Discounted Cash Flow as at May 2026
Next Steps
With sentiment clearly split between risks and rewards, this is a moment to move quickly, test the assumptions yourself, and weigh both sides. To put those signals in context, start with the 4 key rewards and 2 important warning signs
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include MRSH.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
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- 1 Oversold Stock Ready to Bounce Back and 2 We Turn Down
May 11, 2026
Hitting a new 52-week low can be a pivotal moment for any stock. These floors often mark either the beginning of a turnaround story or confirmation that a company faces serious headwinds.
Price charts only tell part of the story. Our team at StockStory evaluates each company's underlying fundamentals to separate temporary setbacks from structural declines. That said, here is one stock poised to prove the bears wrong and two facing legitimate challenges.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Procter & Gamble (PG)
One-Month Return: +0.8%
Founded by candle maker William Procter and soap maker James Gamble, Proctor & Gamble (NYSE:PG) is a consumer products behemoth whose product portfolio spans everything from facial tissues to laundry detergent to feminine care to men’s grooming.
Why Does PG Fall Short?
Scale is a double-edged sword because it limits the company’s growth potential compared to its smaller competitors, as reflected in its below-average annual revenue increases of 2.3% for the last three years Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy Projected sales growth of 2.5% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
Procter & Gamble is trading at $146.08 per share, or 21.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PG in your portfolio, it’s free.
KB Home (KBH)
One-Month Return: -4.5%
The first homebuilder to be listed on the NYSE, KB Home (NYSE:KBH) is a homebuilding company targeting the first-time home buyer and move-up buyer markets.
Why Do We Steer Clear of KBH?
Backlog has dropped by 28% on average over the past two years, suggesting it’s losing orders as competition picks up Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
At $49.10 per share, KB Home trades at 14.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering KBH for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
One Stock to Buy:
Marsh (MRSH)
One-Month Return: -5.6%
With roots dating back to 1871 and a presence in over 130 countries, Marsh (NYSE:MRSH) is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, strategy, and workforce challenges through its four specialized businesses.
Why Are We Bullish on MRSH?
Market share has increased this cycle as its 9.3% annual revenue growth over the last five years was exceptional Enormous revenue base of $27.52 billion provides significant distribution advantages Robust free cash flow margin of 15.9% gives it many options for capital deployment, and its improved cash conversion implies it’s becoming a less capital-intensive business
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Marsh’s stock price of $166.05 implies a valuation ratio of 15.4x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
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Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
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- Unpacking Q1 Earnings: Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE:AJG) In The Context Of Other Insurance Brokers Stocks
May 11, 2026
Wrapping up Q1 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the insurance brokers stocks, including Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE:AJG) and its peers.
The insurance brokerage industry, while influenced by insurance pricing cycles, benefits from durable secular tailwinds as rising risk complexity (climate, data privacy), regulatory scrutiny, and insurance pricing inflation. These increase demand for professional risk-management advice. Brokers operate models that rely on commissions and fees tied to premium volumes and growing contributions from recurring advisory, benefits, and compliance services. Scale is a key advantage, enabling better carrier access, stronger data and benchmarking, and efficient deployment of technology and compliance investments, which in turn supports ongoing industry consolidation. The headwinds are labor intensity and wage inflation for producers, regulatory complexity (this cuts both ways, as you can see), and execution risk when integrating new digital tools into legacy workflows.
The 5 insurance brokers stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.7%.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 6.4% since the latest earnings results.
Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE:AJG)
Founded in 1927 and operating in approximately 130 countries through direct operations and correspondent networks, Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE:AJG) provides insurance brokerage, reinsurance, consulting, and third-party claims settlement services to businesses and individuals worldwide.
Arthur J. Gallagher reported revenues of $4.75 billion, up 27.7% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but revenue in line with analysts’ estimates.
"We had a terrific first quarter!" said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO.Arthur J. Gallagher Total Revenue
Arthur J. Gallagher delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 1.3% since reporting and currently trades at $203.65.
Is now the time to buy Arthur J. Gallagher? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q1: Ryan Specialty (NYSE:RYAN)
Founded in 2010 by insurance industry veteran Patrick Ryan, Ryan Specialty (NYSE:RYAN) is a wholesale insurance broker and underwriting manager that helps retail brokers place complex or hard-to-place risks with insurance carriers.
Ryan Specialty reported revenues of $795.2 million, up 15.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.
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Ryan Specialty Total Revenue
Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 9.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $31.50.
Is now the time to buy Ryan Specialty? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO)
With roots dating back to 1939 and operations spanning 44 U.S. states and 14 countries, Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO) is an insurance brokerage and risk management firm that markets and sells insurance products across property, casualty, and employee benefits sectors.
Brown & Brown reported revenues of $1.90 billion, up 35.4% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 11.6% since the results and currently trades at $58.42.
Read our full analysis of Brown & Brown’s results here.
Baldwin Insurance Group (NASDAQ:BWIN)
Rebranded from BRP Group in May 2024, Baldwin Insurance Group (NASDAQ:BWIN) is an independent insurance distribution company that provides tailored insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions to businesses and individuals.
Baldwin Insurance Group reported revenues of $532.2 million, up 28.7% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.
Baldwin Insurance Group delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 4.5% since reporting and currently trades at $20.98.
Read our full, actionable report on Baldwin Insurance Group here, it’s free.
Marsh (NYSE:MRSH)
With roots dating back to 1871 and a presence in over 130 countries, Marsh (NYSE:MRSH) is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, strategy, and workforce challenges through its four specialized businesses.
Marsh reported revenues of $7.60 billion, up 7.6% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.
Marsh had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 5.1% since reporting and currently trades at $166.05.
Read our full, actionable report on Marsh here, it’s free.
Market Update
Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?
These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
StockStory’s analyst team — all seasoned professional investors — uses quantitative analysis and automation to deliver market-beating insights faster and with higher quality.
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- FIS Tops Q1 Earnings on Banking Solutions Growth, Margin Expansion
May 8, 2026
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. FIS reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.36, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.3%. The bottom line advanced 12% year over year.
Revenues amounted to $3.3 billion, which improved 30% year over year. The top line beat the consensus mark by 0.7%.
The strong quarterly earnings were driven by solid performances in the Banking Solutions and Capital Market Solutions segments, supported by recurring revenue growth, margin expansion and acquisition benefits. However, the upside was partly offset by higher cost of revenues and increased selling, general and administrative expenses.
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseFidelity National Information Services, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Quote
FIS’ Q1 Performance
The cost of revenues increased 32.3% year over year to $2.2 billion in the quarter. SG&A expenses of $605 million rose 8.4% year over year. Net interest expenses of $197 million increased 146.3% from the prior-year quarter’s figure.
Adjusted EBITDA was $1.3 billion, up 36% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 176 basis points year over year to 39.6%, primarily driven by acquisitions, a favorable business mix and cost savings initiatives.
Q1 Segmental Update of Fidelity National
Revenues from the Banking Solutions unit totaled $2.4 billion, which grew 45% year over year. The metric surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%. The segmental results gained from solid margin expansion. Adjusted EBITDA margin improved 299 bps year over year to 43.7%, supported by cost management and a favorable revenue mix.
The Capital Market Solutions segment’s revenues advanced 5% year over year to $823 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. Strong recurring revenue growth benefited the metric. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 51.6% expanded 162 bps year over year.
The Corporate and Other segment recorded revenues of $98 million, which increased 12% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA loss was $158 million.
Financial Update (As of March 31, 2026)
Fidelity National exited the first quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $755 million, which increased from $599 million as of 2025-end. Total assets of $43.5 billion were up from $33.5 billion at the end of 2025.
Long-term debt, excluding the current portion, amounted to $16.8 billion, up from $9.1 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025. The current portion of long-term debt totaled $101 million. Short-term borrowings totaled $4.2 billion at the end of the reported quarter.
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Total equity of $16 billion increased from $13.9 billion at the end of 2025.
Fidelity National Financial generated $713 million in net cash from operations, representing a 56% year-over-year increase. Adjusted free
cash flow totaled $474 million, up 111.6% year over year.
Share Repurchase & Dividend Update
The company returned $262 million to shareholders, including $30 million through share repurchases and $232 million in dividend payments.
2Q26 View
Management forecasts revenues between $3.375 billion and $3.395 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be in the range of $1,395-$1,415 million. Adjusted EPS is estimated to be between $1.45 and $1.49.
FIS Reaffirms 2026 Guidance
Revenues are still expected to be in the range of $13.77-$13.85 billion, indicating 30-31% adjusted revenue growth.
Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $5.8 billion and $5.86 billion in 2026, up from $4.3 billion in 2025. Adjusted EBITDA margin is anticipated to be in the range of 42.1-42.3%.
Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $6.22 and $6.32, which implies significant growth from $5.57 in 2025.
Free cash flow is projected to be between $2.05 billion and $2.15 billion.
FIS’ Zacks Rank
Fidelity National currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
How Did Peers Perform?
Several companies in the Business Services space, including Mastercard Incorporated MA, Visa Inc. V and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. MRSH, have also reported their financial results for the March quarter of 2026. Here’s how they have performed:
Mastercard reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.60 per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.6%. The bottom line improved 23.3% year over year. Net revenues rose 15.8% year over year to $8.4 billion. MA’s quarterly results benefited from growing cross-border volumes and solid growth in value-added services revenues. However, the upside was partly offset by elevated operating expenses and higher payment network rebates from new and renewed deals.
Visa delivered second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.31 per share, which increased 20% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.1%. Net revenues were $11.23 billion, up 17% year over year. V’s quarterly results reflected resilient spending trends, higher cross-border volumes and solid network activity, including a 9% year-over-year increase in payment volume on a constant-dollar basis. The upside was partly offset by increased operating expenses.
Marsh reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $3.29, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5%. The bottom line increased 8% year over year. Consolidated revenues of $7.6 billion improved 8% year over year. The quarterly results benefited from solid growth in the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting unit, particularly from the Marsh Risk, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Marsh Management Consulting businesses. The upside was partially offset by increased operating expenses, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits.
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- Marsh’s Oliver Wyman announces senior leadership appointments to accelerate AI-enabled integration and transformation
May 7, 2026
NEW YORK, May 07, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting and a business of Marsh (NYSE:MRSH), today announced three senior leadership appointments aimed at accelerating how it delivers insights, scales solutions, and supports clients through their most transformative moments.
Jeremy Badman will assume the role of Chief AI and Data Officer. This newly established position will reimagine how work is delivered, staffed, and scaled with AI technology. Badman, who has served as Chief Operating Officer for more than 13 years, will lead the integration of AI within the business and work closely with leaders to design a delivery model that blends human expertise with agentic AI capabilities, enabling teams to operate faster, smarter, and with greater precision.
Paula McGlarry has been appointed Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff and will drive the continued transformation of Oliver Wyman’s operating model, focusing on enhancing cross-functional collaboration, strengthening resilience in key support functions, and embedding AI and technology into core processes. McGlarry has been with the business for two decades, most recently serving as General Counsel.
Mariya Rosberg has been named Head of Strategy and Growth, a newly created role focused on shaping priorities and accelerating growth. In this position, she will help anchor Oliver Wyman’s transition toward an AI-enabled future and align investment priorities with long-term value creation. Rosberg brings more than 30 years of experience in consulting and banking, including leadership roles at Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch. A longtime Oliver Wyman leader, she recently led the Banking & Financial Services Practice in the Americas.
"Together, these appointments reflect a coordinated effort to reimagine how Oliver Wyman operates, pairing our industry knowledge with advanced AI capabilities to deliver greater value to clients," said Ted Moynihan, President and CEO of Oliver Wyman and Marsh Management Consulting. "Jeremy, Paula and Mariya each bring outstanding leadership, broad experience, and a strong commitment to our culture, and I am confident they will help lead Oliver Wyman into this next chapter."
These roles will report directly to Moynihan.
About Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit oliverwyman.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507607496/en/
Contacts
Media:
Danielle Arceneaux
+1 929 215 8732
Danielle.Arceneaux@oliverwyman.com
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- Marsh's Oliver Wyman announces senior leadership appointments to accelerate AI-enabled integration and transformation
May 7, 2026 · businesswire.com
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting and a business of Marsh (NYSE:MRSH), today announced three senior leadership appointments aimed at accelerating how it delivers insights, scales solutions, and supports clients through their most transformative moments. Jeremy Badman will assume the role of Chief AI and Data Officer. This newly established position will reimagine how work is delivered, staffed, and scaled with AI technology. Badman, who has served.
- MARSH'S OLIVER WYMAN ANNOUNCES SENIOR LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS TO ACCELERATE AI-ENABLED INTEGRATION AND TRANSFORMATION
May 7, 2026
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OLIVER WYMAN, A GLOBAL LEADER IN MANAGEMENT CONSULTING AND A BUSINESS OF MARSH (NYSE:MRSH), TODAY ANNOUNCED THREE SENIOR LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS AIMED AT ACCELERATING HOW IT DELIVERS INSIGHTS, SCALES SOLUTIONS, AND SUPPORTS CLIENTS THROUGH THEIR MOST TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENTS. JEREMY BADMAN WILL ASSUME THE ROLE OF CHIEF AI AND DATA OFFICER. THIS NEWLY ESTABLISHED POSITION WILL REIMAGINE HOW WORK IS DELIVERED, STAFFED, AND SCALED WITH AI TECHNOLOGY. BADMAN, WHO HAS SERVED.
- Global Payments Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates on Worldpay Momentum
May 6, 2026
Global Payments, Inc. GPN reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.96, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.82. The bottom line rose 10% year over year.
Adjusted net revenues improved 29.5% year over year to $2.9 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 1.3%.
The strong quarterly earnings benefited from early momentum from the company’s streamlined commerce focus and continued uptake of its Genius platform, including an approximately 90% year-over-year increase in bookings. However, the positives were partly offset by elevated operating expenses.
Global Payments Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseGlobal Payments Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Global Payments Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Global Payments Inc. Quote
GPN’s Operating Performance
The Worldpay acquisition and the sale of Issuer Solutions both closed on Jan. 9, 2026, reshaping Global Payments into a more focused commerce solutions platform.
Adjusted operating income of $1.1 billion increased 22.1% year over year in the quarter under review. Adjusted operating margin expanded 110 basis points (bps) year over year on a normalized basis to 39.9%.
Total operating expenses of $3 billion increased 106.1% year over year in the first quarter. The increase was due to higher selling, general and administrative expenses, and cost of service. Interest and other expenses rose 63.2% year over year to $242.4 million.
GPN’s Financial Position (As of March 31, 2026)
Global Payments exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $5.9 billion, which decreased from $8.3 billion at 2025-end. Total assets of $64.3 billion rose from $53.3 billion at 2025-end.
Long-term debt amounted to $21 billion compared with $19.5 billion at 2025-end. The current portion of long-term debt totaled $1.6 billion at the first-quarter end.
Total equity of $24.5 billion rose from the figure of $23.6 billion at 2025-end.
GPN’s operating activities used $288.8 million of cash in the first quarter of 2026, down from $555.1 million generated a year ago.
Capital Deployment Update
The company entered into a $500 million accelerated share repurchase program. GPN repurchased shares worth $549.9 million in the first quarter of 2026.
The company declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share, which will be paid out on June 26, 2026, to its shareholders of record as of June 12.
GPN Reaffirms 2026 Outlook
Adjusted net revenue growth on a constant currency basis, excluding dispositions, is still expected to be around 5% in 2026.
Adjusted EPS growth is still anticipated to be between 13% and 15% in 2026. GPN expects to convert almost 90% of adjusted net income into adjusted free cash flow.
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The annual adjusted operating margin is expected to increase around 150 bps in 2026.
GPN’s Zacks Rank
GPN currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
How Did Peers Perform?
Several companies in the business services space, including Mastercard Incorporated MA, Visa Inc. V and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. MRSH, have also reported their financial results for the March quarter of 2026. Here’s how they had performed:
Mastercard reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.60 per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.6%. The bottom line improved 23.3% year over year. Net revenues advanced 15.8% year over year to $8.4 billion. MA’s quarterly results benefited from growing cross-border volumes and solid growth in value-added services revenues. However, the upside was partly offset by elevated operating expenses and higher payment network rebates from new and renewed deals.
Visa delivered second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.31 per share, up 20% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.1%. Net revenues came in at $11.23 billion, rising 17% year over year. V’s quarterly results reflected resilient spending trends, higher cross-border volumes and solid network activity, including a 9% year-over-year increase in payments volume on a constant-dollar basis. However, the upside was partly offset by increased operating expenses.
Marsh reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $3.29, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5%. The bottom line advanced 8% year over year. Consolidated revenues of $7.6 billion improved 8% year over year. The strong quarterly results benefited from solid growth in the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting unit, particularly from the Marsh Risk, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Marsh Management Consulting businesses. The upside was partially offset by elevated operating expenses, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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- Mercer and Syndio Join Forces to Close the Gap Between Compensation Strategy and Pay Decisions
May 6, 2026
NEW YORK & SEATTLE, May 06, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercer, a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) and a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people, and Syndio, the leader in Decision Intelligence for Pay, today announced a formal strategic alliance. The collaboration pairs Syndio’s AI-powered pay governance platform with Mercer's world-class advisory expertise–providing clients an integrated approach to designing, governing and executing pay decisions as AI reshapes rewards.
As part of an ongoing collaboration, Mercer becomes an advisory option for Syndio’s enterprise clients, pairing leading workforce and compensation advisory expertise with the industry’s leading pay governance technology. Syndio joins Mercer’s ecosystem of technology providers, offering Mercer’s clients a modern, streamlined technology experience option for pay equity strategy delivery. Syndio's technology will put Mercer's compensation expertise into practice, helping clients transform how they design, govern, and deliver on pay, building the foundation for the future of how companies manage workforce spend.
"Compensation is entering a new era–one shaped by AI, increased transparency, and higher expectations from boards and employees alike," said Stephanie Penner, Mercer’s US & Canada Career Practice Leader. "Navigating it takes both deep advisory expertise and the right technology. Mercer chose Syndio because they bring the rigor our clients require, and together, we're giving enterprises a modern, connected experience that transforms how pay decisions are made across the organization."
What clients can expect: smarter pay decisions
Built on nearly a decade of proprietary pay equity methodology, Syndio's platform and its purpose-built AI, Syndi™, bring embedded intelligence to every analysis and decision. Combined with Mercer's global compensation expertise and market data, clients get a faster, more confident path to pay equity at scale. Better strategy leads to better-governed decisions, and better-governed decisions generate richer intelligence. Clients benefit from both with every turn.
"Mercer has set the standard for compensation strategy for decades," said Erik Darby, President of Syndio. "Together, we’re giving enterprises a clear path through one of the most important transitions they’ll face: using AI to make pay decisions that are faster, fairer, and more strategic. It’s a powerful combination of advisory depth and technology built to meet this moment."
Story Continues
This collaboration reflects what enterprise clients have been asking for: advisory and technology working together, so every pay decision is smarter, fairer, and tied back to strategy. It’s a substantive step forward for how the rewards function operates and reinforces both companies’ commitment to helping clients manage pay with confidence.
About Mercer
Mercer is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Mercer, visit mercer.com, or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Syndio
Syndio is the leader in Decision Intelligence for Pay. Built on nearly a decade of proprietary compensation data, Syndio's AI-powered platform helps global enterprises make every pay decision compliant, optimized, and aligned with business strategy, from the first pay equity audit through every offer, promotion, and merit cycle that follows. Nearly 400 global enterprises, including more than half the Fortune 100, trust Syndio to govern pay decisions for over 10 million employees across 100 countries. Global brands including Salesforce, American Airlines, Siemens, Ford, and Microsoft partner with Syndio to govern pay decisions at scale. Learn more at synd.io.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260506725256/en/
Contacts
Media contact:
Cassie Lenski
+1 214-220-6227
Cassie.lenski@marsh.com
Estela Weinmann
+1 310-918-6691
press@synd.io
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