Shift4 Payments, Inc. Class A (FOUR)

Over the past six months, Shift4 Payments' stock price has experienced a significant decline. Key events impacting the stock include strong Q3 2025 earnings despite near-term headwinds, acquisitions that are seen as drivers of growth but have raised analyst skepticism, analyst downgrades due to concerns about organic growth exit rates, a new $1 billion stock repurchase program, and a leadership change with Taylor Lauber replacing Jared Isaacman as CEO.

Shift4 Payments serves industries such as restaurants, hospitality, retail, and sports venues, which can exhibit seasonality. The hospitality and restaurant industries often experience higher transaction volumes during peak travel seasons, holidays, and major events. Similarly, sports and entertainment venues would see demand tied to their event schedules. Shift4's diversified business across various verticals and its international expansion efforts aim to mitigate the impact of seasonality in any single sector or region.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. is a leading provider of commerce-enabling technology, specializing in software and payment processing solutions for businesses in the United States and internationally. The company operates within the dynamic payments and financial technology sector, providing an omnichannel payments platform that supports various payment types. Shift4 offers a comprehensive suite of technology solutions, including SkyTab POS, SkyTab Mobile, SkyTab Venue, Lighthouse, The Giving Block, Shift4Shop, and a Marketplace. Shift4 serves a diverse range of industries, including restaurants, hospitality, retail, and e-commerce.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. has a significant market presence, processing billions of dollars in transactions annually for hundreds of thousands of merchants across North America and Europe. While historically earning over 90% of its revenue in the U.S., the company is aggressively expanding globally. Through strategic acquisitions, Shift4 has expanded its direct acquiring licenses across Europe, Israel, and Asia and gained operations in over 50 countries. The company has also launched in several African countries and plans further expansion there, as well as bringing its card-present capabilities to markets like Australia and New Zealand. Progress is also being made in the European market, leveraging Vectron's merchant base and reseller network, with initial restaurant installations in Germany and transit solutions live in Portugal, Spain, Germany, Romania, and Italy.

Shift4 Payments' reputation in the past year has been impacted by governance issues and related-party transactions, as well as scrutiny of its accounting practices. Forbes recognized Shift4 as one of America's Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies for 2026, which is a positive reputational event. Strategic acquisitions and innovation, such as the launch of a global stablecoin settlement platform, also positively impact its brand image.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. has 849 institutional owners and shareholders holding a total of 106,259,184 shares. Major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Wasatch Advisors Inc., and Vanguard Group Inc. As of December 30, 2025, Wasatch Advisors LP held 9.85% of the holding, BlackRock, Inc. held 9.17%, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. held 8.89%. Institutional ownership accounts for 131.58% and individuals for 33.69%.