Western Union Company (WU): Today's Featured Financial Services Winner

Mar 27, 2014 5:00 PM EDT

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

Western Union Company ( WU) pushed the Financial Services industry higher today making it today's featured financial services winner. The industry as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Western Union Company rose $0.33 (2.1%) to $16.33 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5,265,998 shares of Western Union Company exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6,961,200 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $15.86-$16.38 after having opened the day at $15.88 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $16.00. Other companies within the Financial Services industry that increased today were: Paulson Capital ( PLCC), up 10.0%, Siebert Financial Corporation ( SIEB), up 7.4%, Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund ( LAQ), up 3.5% and Latin American Discovery Fund ( LDF), up 2.8%.

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The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Consumer-to-Consumer, Consumer-to-Business, and Business Solutions. The Consumer-to-Consumer segment offers cash money transfer services involving walk-in agent locations. Western Union Company has a market cap of $9.0 billion and is part of the financial sector. Shares are down 7.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 7 analysts that rate Western Union Company a buy, 4 analysts rate it a sell, and 11 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Western Union Company as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in stock price during the past year, expanding profit margins and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

You can view the full Western Union Company Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Full Circle Capital ( FULL), down 14.8%, QIWI ( QIWI), down 11.0%, US Global Investors ( GROW), down 10.5% and LiqTech International ( LIQT), down 6.3% , were all laggards within the financial services industry with Charles Schwab ( SCHW) being today's financial services industry laggard.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the financial services industry could consider Financial Select Sector SPDR ( XLF) while those bearish on the financial services industry could consider Proshares Short Financials ( SEF).