We recently published a list of 11 Best Digital Payments Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) stands against other best digital payment stocks.
Digital payment stocks are companies that specialize in designing, developing, or administering digital payment solutions. These firms use technology to enable electronic transactions between individuals, businesses, and institutions. Businesses that provide services such as online payment gateways, mobile payment apps, and peer-to-peer payment platforms can all be considered digital payment stocks. These technologies include digital wallets, payment processing systems, and blockchain-based payment solutions.
The global digital payment market is booming. According to Grand View Research’s report, the global digital payment market is anticipated to reach $96.07 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1% between 2024 and 2030. In terms of solution insights, payment processing led the market with 26.18% of worldwide revenue in 2023. North America dominated the market, accounting for 33.9% of total revenue in 2023. Europe is projected to see a substantial CAGR between 2024 and 2030.
Meanwhile, according to Marqueta’s 2024 State of Payments Report, 46% of survey respondents in the USA reported using some type of contactless payment during the last seven days. This is in contrast with 80% in the United Kingdom and 69% in Australia. Emerging technologies such as cryptocurrencies and the metaverse aim to drive payment innovation and borderless payment choices for customers.
As per McKinskey‘s survey, in 2024, around 90% of consumers in both the US and Europe said they made at least one digital payment in the past year, with usage in the US hitting a record 92%. The survey defines digital payments as transactions completed online—through websites or apps—or in physical stores using dedicated apps like digital wallets. In-app and in-store payments contributed to this expansion, with digital wallet usage for in-store transactions rising from 19% in 2019 to 28% in 2024. This expansion reveals a $10 trillion annual market for both regions. Notably, 20% of digital wallet users in the country occasionally leave home without their traditional wallets, underlining the trend toward digital-first transactions.
There is also a difference in customer preferences between the US and Europe. European users prefer to choose local solutions like iDEAL in the Netherlands or Swish in Sweden, whereas US consumers prefer retailer apps. In America, younger consumers are especially attracted to “Buy Now, Pay Later” marketplaces, spending 1.5 to 2 times more than those who start on merchant websites. Rewards and offers are increasingly influencing payment decisions, with 25% of U.S. consumers citing rewards as a significant factor. This shows the increasing importance of digital wallets in everyday transactions. It opens up chances for payment providers to improve omnichannel loyalty programs and extend retail platforms. Furthermore, A2A payment formats may expand, particularly in the United States, where regulatory improvements could lower merchant costs.
Looking forward, Deloitte’s 2025 payment industry insights outlook revealed that consumers are turning to digital payments, with check transactions dropping as large stores adopt a “check zero” strategy to reduce costs and fraud concerns. Global e-commerce sales are expected to reach $6.3 trillion by 2024, fueling the growing use of credit cards, debit cards, and peer-to-peer payments. P2P app usage has gone up by 12% since 2021, but cash and check P2P payments have dropped. Digital payments are becoming more popular in B2B due to cost savings and technological developments, but checks continue to play an important role.
A payment terminal in action with customers apart of the experience.
Our Methodology
For this article, we first screened for companies that have operations in digital payments. Then, we identified stocks with positive analyst coverage and upside potential. Finally, from that group, we selected the 11 stocks that had the highest upside potential as of April 9, 2025. We have only included stocks in our list with an upside potential of 35% or higher. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the upside potential.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN)
Analysts’ Upside Potential as of April 9: 68.74%
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) is among the Best Digital Money Stocks. It leading digital payment company that offers payment technology and software solutions to merchants, financial institutions, and other businesses globally. It is a major provider of payment processing and software solutions that specializes in supporting small and medium-sized businesses. The business operates in 30 countries and gets roughly one-fourth of its sales from outside North America, especially in Europe and Asia. In 2019, the company merged with Total System Services in an all-stock transaction, giving Total System Services owners 48% of the combined company’s shares. The merger expanded issuer processing operations.
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) had an impressive financial performance in 2024, with 6% adjusted net revenue growth, record adjusted operating margins, and double-digit earnings growth. The business earned $3 billion in adjusted free cash flow and distributed $1.8 billion to shareholders. The Merchant segment expanded by 7% in Q4, driven by POS and software performance, with a 25% growth in annual recurring revenue opportunity in North America. New alliances with Whataburger and a worldwide QSR, as well as significant clients in education and real estate, all contributed to strategic expansion. Furthermore, the firm has raised its operational transformation target to more than $600 million in annual run-rate operating income benefits by early 2027.
On February 14, 2025, RBC Capital analyst Daniel Perlin upgraded Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN)’s price objective to $139 from $130 and maintained an Outperform rating on the stock following its Q4 results and forecast. The analyst tells investors in a research note that the company’s transformation program, which was announced at Investor Day, is still in full swing, with divestitures, portfolio reduction, and a simplification of the overall organizational structure. The firm’s more uniform go-to-market moves were also evident in the quarter and are reflected in FY25 guidance, according to RBC.
Overall, GPN ranks 3rd among the 11 Best Digital Payments Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of digital payment companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GPN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.”
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
