WEX vs WU Stock Comparison
WEX currently leads WU in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 66 vs 56. The clearest difference is momentum, while WU has the stronger risk resilience profile.
What is the main difference between WEX and WU?
WEX leads the current stock comparison as WEX Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
WEX Inc. vs The Western Union Company
WEX leads
WEX leads by 10 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum, having only recently taken the lead back from WU. Wall Street currently favors WU on target upside.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support WEX, the lead recently changed hands, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
WEX Inc.
The Western Union Company
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors WEX over WU, 66 versus 56 as of Oct 31, 2026. WEX's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum, while WU holds the stronger risk resilience profile. WEX also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors WU. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor WEX today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. WEX lead: Reversed — WU led by 2 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; WEX now leads by 10.
Compare WEX Inc. and The Western Union Company across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare WEX and WU against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum82 vs 34WEX +48
- Risk Resilience53 vs 59WU +6
- Quality54 vs 55Even
- Value72 vs 73Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor WEX. WEX’s edge is concentrated in momentum; WU keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-28, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-27.
Largest factor move: Momentum +11
New signals
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum -4
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
WEX's lead widened by 3 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — WEX and WU both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
WEX (WEX Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum.
WU (The Western Union Company): the counter-case, on risk resilience, analyst expectations.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
WEXWEX on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
WEXWEX on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
WEXWEX on the Momentum factor, by 48 points.
Lower downside
WUWU on Risk Resilience, by 6 points.
Analyst upside
WUWU on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors WEX, analyst targets favor WU. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | WEX | WU | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | -3.3% | +13.6% | WU has more room |
| Target dispersion | +31.9% | +28.6% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 5 | 7 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor WEX. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | WEX | 66 vs 56 |
| Fundamentals | WEXon balance | revenue growth 11.8% vs 3.1%; EPS growth 39.1% vs 19%; TTM ROE 28.2% vs 42.6%; gross margin 56.7% vs 33%; operating margin 25.5% vs 16.2% — WEX takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | Even | Value 72 vs 73 |
| Technicals | WEX | Price vs 50-day -1.1% vs -5.8%; vs 200-day 15.3% vs -24.8% |
| Risk Resilience | WU | Risk Resilience 53 vs 59 |
| Analyst expectations | WU | Target upside -3.3% vs 13.6% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of WEX and WU and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 10 points.
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on WEX.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 29 – Oct 28WEX lead: Reversed — WU led by 2 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; WEX now leads by 10.
- Today
- WEX +10
- 66 vs 56
- 7 sessions ago
- WEX +8
- 68 vs 60
- 30 sessions ago
- WU +2
- 52 vs 54
- 90 sessions ago
- WEX +6
- 63 vs 57
The lead changed hands 2 times in this window, most recently on Oct 15 when WEX moved ahead of WU.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 0 bearish
Only WEX
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (13.63%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
1 bullish / 3 bearish, conflicted
Only WU
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (23.92%)
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (1.4%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: MACD Bullish Crossover.
WU is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.62%, AIQ +2 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved down over the latest session (price -0.81%, AIQ -1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1WU closes the Momentum gap — currently 48 points behind, the largest single contributor to WEX's edge.
- 2WU's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3WEX's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
WEX leads on balance| Metric | WEX | WU |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 11.8% | 3.1% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 39.1% | 19% |
| Gross margin | 56.7% | 33% |
| Operating margin | 25.5% | 16.2% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 28.2% | 42.6% |
| Debt to equity | 3.98 | 2.95 |
Performance
WEX leads 6 of 6 windows| Metric | WEX | WU |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 0.9% | -2.6% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 12.2% | 3.2% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 1.6% | -20.8% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 22.4% | -32.2% |
| Year to date | 27.1% | -34.6% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 18.4% | -28.8% |
Technicals
WEX has the stronger structure| Metric | WEX | WU |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 67.5 | 41 |
| ADX (14) | 21.8 | 21.6 |
| Price vs 50-day | -1.1% | -5.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | 15.3% | -24.8% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 31.6% | 31% |
Risk
WU is the more resilient| Metric | WEX | WU |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.27 | 0.4 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.54 | -1.12 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.71 | -1.48 |
| Max drawdown | -31.4% | -42.6% |
| Current drawdown | -6.9% | -40.8% |
| Annualized volatility | 40.9% | 37% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -3.4% | -3.1% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, WEX or WU?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, WEX is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 66 against WU's 56. The edge comes from momentum. WU is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is WEX or WU the better buy right now?
WEX carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor WEX over WU?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. WEX leads Momentum by 48 points; WU leads Risk Resilience by 6 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, WEX or WU?
Analyst price targets imply -3.3% upside for WEX and +13.6% for WU, so the Street currently favors WU. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors WEX. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, WEX or WU?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, WEX or WU?
WEX on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, WEX or WU?
WEX on the Momentum factor, by 48 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, WEX or WU?
WU is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. WU on Risk Resilience, by 6 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is WEX more profitable than WU?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 56.7% vs 33%; operating margin 25.5% vs 16.2%; ttm roe 28.2% vs 42.6%. WEX leads on two measures and WU on one measure, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is WEX's lead over WU getting stronger or weaker?
WEX lead: Reversed — WU led by 2 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; WEX now leads by 10. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-29 and 2026-10-28. The lead has changed hands 2 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-15, when WEX moved ahead of WU.
What would change the WEX vs WU verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: WU closes the Momentum gap — currently 48 points behind, the largest single contributor to WEX's edge; WU's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; WEX's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about WEX and WU?
WEX: 4 bullish / 0 bearish. WU: 1 bullish / 3 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on WEX is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On WU it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare WEX and WU with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.