Align Technology, Inc. vs Global Payments Inc — how do they compare? Align Technology, Inc. trades at $173.38 (market cap $12.29B), while Global Payments Inc trades at $88.32 (market cap $22.72B). The key difference: Global Payments Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Global Payments Inc pays a 1.16% dividend while Align Technology, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALGN | GPN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.29B | $22.72B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $197.51 | $90.01 |
52-Week Low | $124.88 | $62.47 |
Enterprise Value | $11.30B | $40.87B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.16% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALGN trades at $174.63, down 0.8% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with record revenue and clear aligner volume. Fundamentals show solid profitability with a 68.05% gross margin and 9.99% net income margin, though revenue growth has moderated. Recent news highlights a patent win in China and strategic initiatives following activist investor engagement.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is strongly bullish (73% buy ratings), but technicals and slowing revenue growth pose near-term risks. Investment opportunity lies in international expansion and digital dentistry platform growth, while risks include competitive pressures and execution of new strategic initiatives. The stock's valuation at 30x P/E requires sustained earnings growth to justify.
Global Payments (GPN) trades at $88.65, up 2.93% today, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 63.91% gross margin but negative net income margin and ROE. Recent Q2 2026 EPS of $3.46 beat estimates, though revenue guidance was trimmed. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $96.67 target.
GPN offers upside to analyst targets but faces risks from margin pressure and competitive fintech landscape. Debt-to-asset ratio rose to 41.57% in 2025, increasing financial leverage concerns. Investment appeal hinges on execution of the Genius platform strategy amid economic headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Align is the leading manufacturer of clear dental aligners globally, having pioneered the technology with the introduction of its Invisalign branded aligners in 1998. Since then, Invisalign has become a household name, having treated over 10 million patients with malocclusion (misaligned teeth) through orthodontist and dentist-guided treatment plans. The company maintains dominant market share of clear aligners, despite the introduction of direct-to-consumer competitors upon the expiration of key patents that began in 2017. Align also manufactures intraoral scanners (iTero), used for orthodontic treatment and restorative dental procedures (digital models for crowns, veneers, and implants).
Read more on ALGN →Global Payments is a leading provider of payment processing and software solutions and focuses on serving small and midsize merchants. The company operates in 30 countries and generates about one fourth of its revenue from outside North America, primarily in Europe and Asia. In 2019, Global Payments merged with Total System Services in an all-stock deal that gave Total System Services shareholders 48% of the combined company's shares.
Read more on GPN →