We recently compiled a list of the 10 Oversold Large Cap Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) stands against the other oversold large cap stocks.

The Fed recently reduced the funds rate by 50 basis points, a decision seen as daring by some analysts, though it has been largely embraced by the market and many experts. The market seems to be on an upward trajectory since the day of rate cuts as the S&P gained over 4.3% on October 14 and closed at another all-time high.

While there are some concerns, experts are quite optimistic that they won’t be of much significance as we discussed in our article about best-performing long-term stocks in 2024. Here is an excerpt from the article:

“Dominic Chu of CNBC expressed concerns about potential market overconfidence, given the calmness amid geopolitical risks, the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and consumer spending challenges. [Gunjan] Banerji acknowledged these risks but emphasized that much of the market’s optimism is tied to the Fed’s actions, with people reassured by the larger-than-expected rate cut.

Finally, Banerji pointed out a broadening of the market rally beyond the tech sector and mentioned the strong performances in sectors like energy and materials, and record highs from companies like Caterpillar and McDonald’s, which indicates a healthier, more diverse market rally.”

The Path Forward for Equities and AI

Noah Blackstein, Senior Portfolio Manager at Dynamic Funds recently joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ and showed optimism around the equity markets. He suggested that current highs may continue. He expects the Fed will implement two more rate cuts this year, which would help sustain market momentum. Despite some geopolitical uncertainties and election concerns, the broader expectation in the market since July, along with favorable banking and credit indicators, supports his positive outlook.

Blackstein believes the labor market’s strength may be overstated and noted that revisions to employment data are likely due to a low participation rate in recent surveys. He also argued that real interest rates are historically high and tight, which further suggests the need for more cuts.

Regarding the economy, Blackstein expects further rate reductions to avoid potential market volatility, especially in light of recent hurricane impacts on employment and retail sales. He highlighted that while real interest rates may seem moderate when compared to the last 20 years, they are still elevated in historical terms.

As the Fed steers the economy away from a potential recession, Blackstein views the next phase as an opportunity for long-term growth, especially in areas like family housing and AI. He believes AI will drive a productivity revolution and integrate data strategies into several sectors, which will ultimately lead to cost savings and revenue growth for corporations.

Our Methodology

To list 10 oversold large-cap stocks, we used a Finviz screener to extract stocks that have fallen significantly on a YTD basis and have a forward P/E ratio between 5x to 15x. After getting a list of 20 stocks, we narrowed it to the most widely held by institutional investors. Finally, the stocks were ranked in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment which was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q2 database of 912 hedge funds.

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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN)

Market Cap: $25.78 billion

FWD PE Ratio: 8.76

YTD Share Price Decline: 20.5%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) is a payment technology company that offers innovative solutions that help businesses operate efficiently across multiple channels. It operates in two primary segments: Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions. The company has over 4 million customers across more than 100 countries.

The Merchant Solutions segment provides businesses worldwide with technology for processing card and digital payments, offering additional services like terminal rentals, chargeback resolution, and business analytics.

The Issuer Solutions segment of Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) offers financial institutions and service providers tools to manage card portfolios, reduce complexity, and provide seamless cardholder experiences. It supports B2B payments, commercial accounts, and electronic alternatives, with services like fraud detection, risk management, customer service, and business intelligence.

At its 2024 Investor Conference, the company focused on operational transformation and long-term value creation. The company plans potential divestitures amounting to $500 million to $600 million in annual revenue and plans to streamline operations and improve profitability.

For 2025, Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) targets mid-single-digit growth in adjusted net revenue, about 10% growth in adjusted EPS, and a 50 basis point increase in operating margins. The outlook for 2026 and 2027 is strong, with expected mid-to-high-single-digit revenue growth and EPS growth in the low teens. The company’s transformation efforts are expected to yield over $500 million in operating income benefits by mid-2027, with 30% realized in 2025, which positions it well for sustained success.

Parnassus Investments stated the following regarding Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN) stock fell on investor fears that a slowing economy could weigh on payment processing companies. The company will host an investor day focused on improving efficiencies and strategic redeployment of assets in the fall, which we believe will unlock hidden value in the undervalued shares.”

Overall GPN ranks 1st on our list of the oversold large cap stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of GPN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. 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 the cheapest AI stock.

Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA ‘Has Become A Wasteland’.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.