Shift4 Payments reported fourth-quarter earnings that topped estimates while revenue and payment volume met views. Full-year 2025 company guidance for Shift4 stock came in below expectations.
In addition, Shift4 announced a deal to acquire Global Blue, a specialty payments and technology platform focused on retail luxury brands, for $2.5 billion. Shift4 said it will purchase Global Blue for $7.50 per share in cash, representing a 15% premium to Global Blue's closing share price as of Friday.
Shift4 Stock: Big Acquisition
Further, Global Blue provides tax refund and currency conversion solutions to more than 400,000 premium retail and hospitality locations in Europe, Asia, and South America. It claims to hold 80% market share in the tax-free shopping market.
"Given the company's reliance on M&A to fuel growth, questions remain around what the right long-term organic growth profile is for the company in a hyper-competitive industry," said Deutsche Bank analyst Nate Svensson, in a report. "Further complicating matters is the upcoming departure of well-respected CEO Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, which creates some uncertainty around the strategic direction of the company."
President Donald Trump has tapped Shift4's founder and Chief Executive, Jared Isaacman, to lead NASA. He still needs to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Reported after the market close, Shift4 earnings rose 77% to $1.35 on an adjusted basis. Revenue rose 50% to $405 million, including acquisitions.
Shift4 stock analysts had projected earnings of $1.14 a share on sales of $405 million.
In addition, Shift4 reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $206 million, up 51%, slightly below consensus EBITDA estimates of $209 million.
End-to-end payment volume from merchant customers climbed 49% to $47.9 billion, below estimates of $47.98 billion.
FOUR Stock: Technical Ratings
On the stock market today, Shift4 stock fell nearly 11% to 111.95 in early trading. FOUR stock had advanced 20% in 2025 before the earnings release.
For 2025, Shift4 said it expects revenue in a range of $1.65 billion to $1.72 billion. The midpoint is below consensus estimates of $1.726 billion.
The company forecast EBITDA for FOUR stock in a range of $830 million to $855 million, below estimates of $863 million.
Allentown, Pa.-based Shift4 gets most of its revenue from customers in the hotel and restaurant industries as well as casinos. Aside from the hotel and restaurant industries, Shift4 has expanded into sports stadiums, airlines and charitable giving as well as food and beverage companies.
Shift4 competes with Clover, owned by Fiserv, as well as Square, owned by Block and Toast, among others.
Isaacman is a private astronaut and close associate of Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who is an advisor to Trump.
Follow Reinhardt Krause on Twitter @reinhardtk_tech for updates on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
