Shift4 is maintaining an aggressive growth outlook for 2026, forecasting full-year payment volume of $240 billion to $260 billion as the payments technology company continues expanding across hospitality, restaurants, sports and entertainment, luxury retail, and other parts of what it calls the Experience Economy.
The full-year payment volume outlook represents growth of approximately 15% to 24%. Shift4 also expects gross revenue less network fees of $2.48 billion to $2.53 billion, representing 25% to 27% growth, and adjusted EBITDA of $1.15 billion to $1.18 billion, representing approximately 19% to 22% growth.
The company is also forecasting adjusted free cash flow of $465 million to $475 million for the year and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $5.15 to $5.35. Its fourth-quarter outlook calls for gross revenue less network fees of $661 million to $711 million and adjusted EBITDA of $327 million to $352 million.
The guidance follows a second quarter in which payment volume reached $61 billion, up 22% year-over-year. Gross revenue less network fees reached $624 million, while gross profit was $420 million. Net income totaled $24 million and adjusted EBITDA reached $284 million.
Shift4’s international expansion is becoming an increasingly important component of that growth. The company now enables commerce in more than 75 countries across its major verticals, including food and beverage, hospitality, sports and entertainment, unified commerce, and luxury retail.
Shift4 One, its global luxury retail payments platform, is now live in 12 European countries and remains on track toward a 2026 goal of more than 15 countries. The platform has been implemented by luxury and specialty retailers across markets including Spain, the Czech Republic and Italy.
Management also pointed to the FIFA World Cup as a demonstration of Shift4’s ability to process demanding, high-volume in-person transactions. More than one million fans traveled to the U.S. during the quarter, with Shift4 technology operating across restaurants, hotels and match venues in the U.S. and Canada.
The company’s capital allocation strategy includes continued investment in customer acquisition and product development, along with acquisitions, divestitures and share repurchases. Shift4 said it has repurchased 19.9 million shares since its IPO and repurchased approximately 700,000 shares for $25 million during Q2.
KEY QUOTES:
“The second quarter of 2026 reinforced three themes: the durability of our growth, the global appetite for our products, and the strength of our position at the center of the experience economy.”
“These results underscore the increasing diversity of our business and the durability of our growth.”
Taylor Lauber, Chief Executive Officer of Shift4
