ACI Worldwide, Inc. - ACIW STOCK NEWS

A new global report reveals that 65% of banks view Open APIs as essential for modernizing payment systems, allowing access to diverse fintechs and consolidating payment types. A third of banks now generate over half their income from payment processing, with 86% of large banks deriving over 30% of revenues from this channel. The report also highlights that over 90% of financial institutions consider payment hubs critical for addressing payment-related challenges, with 45% planning to implement a hub in the next five years.

ACI Worldwide reported a 28% growth in buy now, pay later (BNPL) transactions from October to December 2021 compared to 2020, peaking at over 43% in October. Overall transaction values rose 28% in October 2021 due to early holiday shopping driven by supply chain fears. The buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) method saw a 68% increase during the holiday season. However, fraud attempts surged 14% between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, particularly targeting electronics. The travel and ticketing sectors showed strong growth, with nearly 100% increase in transactions.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) has received numerous industry accolades in 2021, highlighting its leadership in payment solutions. Recognized in areas such as AI, Digital Banking, and Fraud Management, ACI's achievements include best-in-class rankings and awards for its innovative software and technology. Key recognitions involve the Best Application of AI at AI Awards Ireland and the Best Online Payment Solution at the Payments Awards. This ongoing recognition validates ACI's commitment to enhancing its offerings as they evolve towards a NextGen real-time payments cloud.

ACI Worldwide announced a new partnership with KyckGlobal to enhance digital disbursement options for billers in the U.S. This partnership allows billers to offer customers a variety of payment methods, including international payments and cash options. The collaboration aims to streamline payments in sectors like education and insurance, enabling quick and convenient disbursements. The service utilizes a cloud-based engine that supports multiple payment types, aimed at improving customer experience and reducing disbursement delays.

ACI Worldwide and Dover Fueling Solutions have announced a new point-to-point encryption (P2PE) security solution aimed at enhancing the protection of customer credit and debit card data during fueling transactions. This collaboration responds to the recent liability shift in the U.S., which necessitates stronger security measures. The P2PE technology encrypts cardholder data from the moment of entry to decryption at the payment platform, safeguarding against various cyber threats. This initiative underscores the companies' commitment to secure transactions for fuel retailers.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) announced a $250 million share repurchase authorization, underscoring its confidence in the company's transformation and future potential. This includes $38 million remaining from prior approvals. The firm has repurchased $100 million in stock since early 2020 and plans to allocate a significant portion of the new buyback within the next year. CEO Odilon Almeida highlighted the strategy's alignment with their long-term vision to lead in real-time payments. CFO Scott Behrens emphasized their commitment to returning cash to shareholders, backed by strong cash flow and financial flexibility.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) has extended its partnership with PayPoint to enhance its payment modernization efforts. The collaboration focuses on utilizing ACI Acquiring, a secure and scalable cloud solution that will enable PayPoint to innovate and expand its digital payment capabilities. This partnership aims to meet the growing demand for alternative payment methods and enhance service offerings across PayPoint's extensive retail network, which comprises over 28,000 convenience stores in the UK. The initiative is designed to position PayPoint for future growth in a competitive payments landscape.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) anticipates a thriving holiday shopping season, projecting a 23% increase in eCommerce transactions between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, and a 14% growth for the entire holiday period (October - December 2021). Sectors like ticketing (414%) and travel (113%) are expected to see significant gains. The buy online, pick up in store method is projected to rise 98%. However, fraud attempts are anticipated to escalate, particularly in gaming, travel, and ticketing sectors, raising concerns for merchants amid ongoing pandemic challenges.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a leading provider of real-time digital payment software, hosted a briefing to update investors on its three-pillar strategy and long-term goals. The company announced an increased revenue growth forecast, expecting an organic growth rate of 7-9% by 2024, up from mid-single digits. ACI aims to enhance its net adjusted EBITDA margin in line with this growth. CEO Odilon Almeida emphasized ACI's position in innovating global payments, while CFO Scott Behrens highlighted strong cash flow and financial stability.