The stock market, buoyed by the U.S. government’s removal of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, is off to a good start in 2026, with the S&P 500 up 1.3% in the first week of trading.Yet some cracks are forming beneath the surface in early 2026 with a handful of widely owned, once-high-growth stocks facing competitive headwinds, valuation pressure, and business growth risks that are likely to shadow any near-term upside.As usual, the most expensive sectors are the most at-risk.Dan Buckley, chief analyst a ...

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is experiencing a positive year-to-date performance with a 21% increase in share price, despite recent adjustments in price targets by analysts [2]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Bank of America has reduced its price target for Affirm Holdings from $98 to $97 while maintaining a Buy rating [2]. - Wolfe Research has initiated coverage on Affirm Holdings with a Peer Perform rating and a fair value range of $72 to $82 for year-end 2026 [2]. Group 2: Company Performance and Management Insights - The CFO of Affirm, Rob O'Hare, has addressed concerns regarding weak loan origination, attributing issues to tracking errors in the fourth quarter [2]. - Jim Cramer has expressed strong support for Affirm, stating that the company is having an "amazing quarter" and believes its stock has more potential for growth [3].

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is among the 7 Best Digital Payments Stocks to Invest In Now. BofA Maintains a Buy Recommendation On Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) TheFly reported that on December 16, 2025, BofA reduced Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) price goal from $98 to $97. BofA maintained a Buy recommendation on the stock after modifying estimates throughout its consumer finance coverage due to pre-quiet period investor relations catch-ups. Separately, Wolfe Research began covering Affirm Ho ...

Core Insights - The fintech sector is a transformative investment space merging finance and technology, encompassing services like online banking, peer-to-peer payments, insurance, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity [2] Industry Overview - The performance of the fintech space is inversely related to interest rates, with low rates benefiting technological improvements and product innovation [3] - The expansion of mobile and broadband networks, along with advancements in AI and machine learning, positions fintech for significant growth in banking, payments, and investments [4] Investment Recommendations - Three fintech companies are recommended for investment to capitalize on the digital finance revolution by 2026: Robinhood Markets Inc. (HOOD), SoFi Technologies Inc. (SOFI), and Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) [5] Company Analysis: Robinhood Markets Inc. (HOOD) - Robinhood operates a financial services platform allowing users to invest in various assets, including cryptocurrencies [8] - Increased retail participation is expected to improve HOOD's trading revenues, supported by solid trading activity and growth in net interest revenues [9] - HOOD is innovating rapidly with new products like Cortex and Legend, enhancing user engagement and expanding its financial services [12][13] - The company is expanding internationally, offering tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs across 31 EU/EEA countries, which positions it for sustained profitability [14] - HOOD has an expected revenue growth rate of 21% and earnings growth rate of 16.2% for the next year, with a long-term EPS growth rate of 27.5% [15] Company Analysis: SoFi Technologies Inc. (SOFI) - SOFI leverages its online banking services and the Galileo platform to expand its market presence, benefiting from lower interest rates [16][17] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the digitalization trend in the financial sector, with a focus on innovation and strategic partnerships [19] - SOFI has an expected revenue growth rate of 25.3% and earnings growth rate of 62.1% for the next year, with a long-term EPS growth rate of 22.2% [21] Company Analysis: Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm's growth is supported by increasing GMV, adoption of Affirm Cards, and entry into high-growth verticals [22] - The company utilizes a cloud-native platform with machine learning for underwriting and customer service optimization [23] - Affirm is expanding into everyday spending categories and broadening its ecosystem beyond core BNPL offerings [24][26] - AFRM has an expected revenue growth rate of 26% and earnings growth rate of over 100% for the current year, with a long-term EPS growth rate of 22.3% [27][28]

Core Insights - The "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services are becoming increasingly popular during the holiday shopping season, with spending expected to reach $20.2 billion, an 11% increase from the previous year [2] - Annual BNPL spending is projected to hit $116.7 billion by 2025, doubling from 2022 and increasing more than sevenfold compared to 2020 [3] - A survey indicates that half of holiday shoppers are likely to use BNPL services if available, highlighting its growing acceptance [4] Industry Trends - BNPL services are embedded in consumer culture, leading to higher average order values—91% for enterprises and 62% for small businesses [5] - Despite the growth, there are rising concerns about the financial strain on consumers, with 41% of users admitting to missing payments, up from 34% last year [6] - Financial experts warn that BNPL can create a false sense of affordability, leading consumers to make purchases beyond their means [7] Regulatory Environment - There is increasing regulatory scrutiny on BNPL services, with proposed legislation aimed at extending consumer protections similar to those for credit cards [10] - A multistate inquiry into major BNPL providers is underway, focusing on fees, disclosures, and consumer risks [11] - The regulatory landscape is inconsistent, with BNPL products being treated differently across states, leading to confusion and potential regulatory arbitrage [12] Market Performance - The year 2025 has been mixed for BNPL companies, with varying stock performances: PayPal down 30.54%, Block down 24.90%, Affirm up 25.69%, Klarna down 31.67%, Sezzle up 65.27%, and Zip up 7.32% [15]

Key Takeaways AFRM posted 33.6% revenue growth, rising active users and 96% repeat transactions in fiscal Q1 2026.Affirm's real-time underwriting and expanding partners are improving operating leverage.AXP's revenues increased 11%, but its mature model limits upside versus faster-scaling fintech platforms.Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) and American Express Company (AXP) operate in different corners of the payments ecosystem, but both sit squarely at the intersection of consumer spending and credit. As payment ...

We recently published 8 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar.  Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer's radars. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is an American payments network operator. Cramer discussed the firm on the episode of Mad Money aired on December 15th as he recalled the reaction to the fiscal first quarter earnings. These results, which were released on November 6th, saw Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) post $933 million in revenue and $0.23 in earnings per share. ...

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Cramer noted the market’s reaction to the stock after the company posted its quarterly report over a month ago. The Mad Money host said: “A little over a month ago, we got a really impressive quarter from Affirm Holdings, the buy now, pay later powerhouse… [It] posted a 12-cent earnings beat off an 11% basis with much higher than expected revenue. The stock shot up more than 11% the next day, reaching a high of $79 and ...

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is one of the best FinTech stocks to buy in 2026. On December 9, Wolfe Research initiated coverage of Affirm with a Peer Perform rating, arguing that while the company has multiple credible growth drivers, the stock’s valuation leaves limited room for near-term upside. The firm characterized Affirm’s business momentum as solid but said a more attractive entry point would be needed before adopting a more constructive stance on the shares. Wolfe highlighted several area ...

Affirm (AFRM) stock closed nearly 12% higher on Dec. 16 after the financial technology company said Amazon (AMZN) has renewed its partnership with it for five more years. The announcement marks a crucial victory for AFRM as the e-commerce giant serves as one of its most important distribution channels and revenue resources. More News from Barchart Despite the rally, Affirm stock is down some 20% versus its year-to-date high set in August. www.barchart.com Significance of Amazon Partnership for Affirm ...