Shares of the world's largest payment transfer company, Western Union Co. (NYSE: WU), have been rallying in today's trading after the company reported a strong quarterly profit, helped by favorable exchange rates that lifted international business. Strong growth came especially from India and China, but the domestic market too provided significant revenue growth on higher demand for electronic bill payment services.
For the quarter, Western Union said that its profit jumped 7% to $207 million, or 27 cents a share, helped by strong gains from its international business. These numbers are up from $193.2 million, or 25 cents a share, reported in the same period a year earlier. Included in the company's earnings figures was $24 million related to restructuring charges. Excluding that, Western Union's earnings would have come at 29 cents per share, exceeding analysts' forecasts for a quarterly profit of 28 cents a share.
Western Union posted a respectable growth of 12% year-over-year, climbing to $1.3 billion. During the period, Western Union benefited from the slumping dollar, a major driver for its international business. Analysts expected the company show revenue of $1.24 billion in the first-quarter, according to Thomson Financial.
Based on its good earnings, the global money transfer company lifted its 2008 earnings outlook and now expects a profit between $1.25 and $1.29 per share. For the full year, Western Union also predicted revenue growth in a range between 9% and 11%.
The company's positive outlook and its surprising earnings figures impressed investors' who showed their enthusiasm by pushing the stock over 4% higher in morning trading. Eliza Popescu is a financial writer for the online investment advisory service Investor's Observer.
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