The robots are coming, but a fintech veteran says they're not replacing human workers. "I don't think it's coming for our jobs," Affirm (AFRM) CEO Max Levchin told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi at Yahoo Finance's Invest event. "I'm a huge believer in this notion that AI and embodied AI is a collection of tools for us to lead better lives, to do more." The former PayPal co-founder started buy now, pay later (BNPL) service Affirm in 2012. The fintech offers a fee-free flexible payment system. ...

Core Insights - AI is significantly transforming the payments and retail industries, with companies like Walmart, Shopify, Etsy, and Lowe's integrating AI tools into their shopping experiences [1] - The concept of "agentic commerce" is emerging, where AI chatbots may become trusted partners in the shopping process, potentially handling purchases and customer interactions [5][8] - The evolution of shopping experiences raises questions about responsibility and trust in AI agents, particularly regarding product satisfaction and returns [8][9] Industry Impact - The integration of AI in retail is expected to change the role of stores, shifting them towards fulfillment rather than direct sales, which may create new distribution channels [14][15] - The first sale is crucial for retailers, as it establishes trust and paves the way for repeat customers, which is essential for profitability [12][13] - Retailers that cannot adapt to the new AI-driven landscape may struggle to survive, as competition will increasingly focus on price and fulfillment [17] Future Considerations - The shopping experience is evolving rapidly, and retailers must adapt to maintain relevance in a world where transactions may primarily occur through AI [18] - The discovery process in shopping, which many consumers enjoy, is unlikely to disappear entirely, but it will be reinvented through AI [16] - The need for new forms of authentication and verification will become critical as AI-generated content and deep fakes pose challenges to trust and security [23][24]

With earnings season now entering its final stretch, the latest company to woo Wall Street with its performance is  “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) company Affirm Holdings (AFRM). The fintech firm unveiled its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results on Nov. 6 after the closing bell, and the investors clearly loved what they saw as shares jumped more than 11.61% the very next trading session. Investors were encouraged by strong top and bottom-line figures, which not only crushed Street expectations but also showed m ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's investment portfolio and insights into various stocks, particularly focusing on Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) [2]. Group 1 - The author holds a beneficial long position in AMZN and GOOG through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives [2]. - The analysis aims to provide contrasting views on the portfolio based on the author's background and experience [1]. - The article encourages readers to reach out for questions or comments, indicating an open dialogue for further discussion [1].

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) shares increased by 15.4% following the release of its first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, driven by strong growth in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), transaction volumes, active merchants, and card network revenues, although offset by high expenses and rising credit loss provisions [1] Financial Performance - Affirm reported Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) of 23 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents and improving from a loss of 31 cents per share in the prior year [2][9] - Total revenues rose by 33.6% year over year to $933.3 million, surpassing management's expectations of $855-$885 million and beating the consensus mark by 5.5% [2] - GMV reached $10.8 billion, a 42% increase year over year, exceeding management's expected range but falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.1 billion [3][9] - Total transactions increased by 52.2% year over year to 41.4 million, driven by repeat customer transactions, although it missed the consensus mark of 44.2 million [4] Revenue Breakdown - Servicing income grew by 53% year over year to $39.7 million, missing the consensus mark of $40.3 million [4] - Interest income increased by 20% year over year to $454.1 million, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $481.7 million [4] - Merchant network revenues improved by 36.2% year over year to $251.1 million, missing the consensus mark of $304.8 million [5] - Card network revenues rose by 46% year over year to $69.3 million, attributed to higher usage of Affirm Card and virtual cards, but also missed the consensus mark of $81 million [5] Expense and Profitability Metrics - Total operating expenses increased by 4.6% year over year to $869.7 million, driven by higher costs in various areas including loan purchase commitments and technology expenses [6] - Provision for credit losses rose by 1.8% year over year to $162.8 million [6] - Adjusted operating income surged by 103.6% year over year to $264 million, with an adjusted operating margin improving by 970 basis points to 28.3%, surpassing management's estimated range of 23-25% [7] Financial Position - As of September 30, 2025, Affirm had cash and cash equivalents of $1.4 billion, a 5.5% increase from the end of fiscal 2025 [8] - Total assets increased to $11.5 billion from $11.2 billion at the end of fiscal 2025 [8] - Funding debt rose by 9.6% to $1.8 billion compared to June 30, 2025 [8] - Total stockholders' equity increased to $3.3 billion from $3.1 billion at the end of fiscal 2025 [10] Future Guidance - For Q2 fiscal 2026, Affirm forecasts GMV in the range of $13-$13.3 billion and revenues between $1.03-$1.06 billion, with an expected adjusted operating margin of 28-30% [11] - For the full fiscal year 2026, management anticipates GMV to exceed $47.5 billion, up from a previous estimate of over $46 billion, with revenues expected to be 8.4% of GMV [12]

Group 1 - Affirm (AFRM) is experiencing strong growth rates, indicating it is gaining market share in the e-commerce sector, particularly in the buy now, pay later market [1] - The company stands out as a positive performer amidst concerns regarding market volatility [1] Group 2 - Julian Lin, a financial analyst, focuses on identifying undervalued companies with long-term growth potential and strong management teams [1] - The investment group led by Julian Lin emphasizes stocks with a high probability of delivering significant alpha compared to the S&P 500 [1] - The group's approach combines growth-oriented principles with strict valuation criteria to enhance the margin of safety [1]

Welcome back. Two fintech companies moving in opposite directions on this Friday. Mackenzie Sagalos has more on block and a firm.We talked to Max earlier this morning about GMV. >> Yeah, that was a a real bright spot for them. But a tale of two fintexs after the bell.A firm soaring, block sinking, and that disconnect was not about the consumer, but about who's proving they can scale profitably. A firm posted a blowout quarter that delivered exactly that even after losing the Walmart deal to CLA. transaction ...

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings Inc. shares increased over 9% following the release of first-quarter fiscal 2026 results that exceeded analyst expectations and raised full-year guidance [1] Financial Performance - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.23, surpassing the consensus forecast of $0.11 by 109% [2] - Revenue grew 34% year over year to $933 million, exceeding expectations of $881.84 million [2] - Gross merchandise volume (GMV) increased by 42% to $10.8 billion, driven by strong performance in the direct-to-consumer segment [2] Segment Performance - Affirm's Card segment showed remarkable growth, with card GMV rising 135% year over year [3] - Active cardholders increased by 500,000 from the previous quarter to reach 2.8 million, while total active consumers grew 24% to 24.1 million, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of accelerating user growth [3] Future Guidance - For the fiscal second quarter, Affirm projected revenue between $1.03 billion and $1.06 billion, with the midpoint slightly below the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion [4] - The company raised its full-year GMV forecast to over $47.5 billion, up from previous guidance of above $46 billion [5] - Affirm maintained its revenue-to-GMV ratio at approximately 8.4%, indicating revenue above $3.99 billion, and reiterated Revenue Less Transaction Costs (RLTC) guidance of $1.9 billion, about 4% of revenue [5] - The adjusted operating margin target was increased to above 27.1% from more than 26.1% [5]

There's a lot of emphasis, at least from from Bloomberg intelligence in-house on on COD and that driving volumes. But what we've learned across this earnings period in your domain is it's worth spending a minute on the underlying behaviors of your consumers that that drove this growth in the quarter. What do you say.So despite the by obsession we're seeing in the markets today in the last few days, affirms consumer is really healthy. They're shopping, they're buying, they're paying their bills. They're you ...

There's a lot of emphasis, at least from from Bloomberg intelligence in-house on on COD and that driving volumes. But what we've learned across this earnings period in your domain is it's worth spending a minute on the underlying behaviors of your consumers that that drove this growth in the quarter. What do you say.So despite the by obsession we're seeing in the markets today in the last few days, affirms consumer is really healthy. They're shopping, they're buying, they're paying their bills. They're you ...