Core Viewpoint - The introduction of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans into credit scoring by FICO will begin impacting consumer credit scores starting in fall 2025, marking a significant change in how these loans are perceived in the credit landscape [2][3][7]. Group 1: Overview of BNPL Loans - BNPL loans allow consumers to make purchases in installments, typically with little to no interest and without hard credit checks [4]. - Major BNPL providers include Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, and PayPal Pay Later, which offer flexible payment options at checkout [5][10]. Group 2: Impact on Credit Scores - Previously, BNPL loans did not affect credit scores as they were not reported to credit agencies, allowing consumers to use them without impacting their credit history [6][11]. - FICO's new scoring models, FICO Score 10 BNPL and FICO Score 10 T BNPL, will incorporate BNPL data, but lenders will need sufficient data from BNPL providers before these scores can be utilized [8][9]. Group 3: Expected Changes and Consumer Behavior - The impact of BNPL loans on credit scores is expected to be similar to opening a new account, with scores potentially improving or decreasing by about 10 points for most consumers [12]. - The effect on individual credit scores will vary based on the consumer's overall credit profile and the specifics of their BNPL loans [13]. Group 4: Consumer Usage Trends - A significant portion of BNPL users are utilizing these loans for essential expenses, with 47% using them for groceries and 35% for medical bills, raising concerns about the financial health of these consumers [14][15]. - Nearly half of BNPL users have missed at least one payment, indicating potential risks associated with increased reliance on these financial products [15].

Group 1 - Affirm's stock (NASDAQ: AFRM) has increased over 20% in the last month due to strong quarterly performance and an optimistic outlook [2] - The growth was supported by an expanded partnership with Apple Pay for in-store purchases and new integrations with ServiceTitan and Stripe Terminal [2] - The U.S. Federal Reserve's 25-basis-point interest rate cut and potential future cuts have created a favorable market for AFRM stock [2] Group 2 - Paymentus stock (NYSE: PAY) is considered a more attractive investment compared to Affirm due to stronger long-term revenue growth, higher profitability, and better valuation [3] - Paymentus reported a quarterly revenue increase of 41.9%, while Affirm's revenue growth was 33.0% [6] - Paymentus' Last 12 Months revenue growth was 49.4%, surpassing Affirm's 38.8% [6] Group 3 - Paymentus has a stronger 3-year average margin of 3.7%, compared to Affirm's -20.9% [6]

Core Insights - The article discusses the investment positions held by analysts in specific companies, indicating a long position in shares of AFRM and COIN [1] Group 1 - Analysts express personal opinions on the stocks mentioned, emphasizing that they are not receiving compensation for their views [1] - The article highlights that past performance of stocks does not guarantee future results, which is a common disclaimer in investment analysis [2] - It notes that the analysts contributing to the article may not be licensed or certified, suggesting a diverse range of backgrounds among contributors [2]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. is expanding its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) offerings across various sectors, including retail, home services, and wellness, reflecting a commitment to consumer-friendly financing [1][9] - The company aims to capture a share of the projected $3.7 trillion U.S. health and wellness market by 2034 through enhanced mobile capabilities and integration with major platforms [2][8] Group 1: BNPL Expansion - Affirm has launched a feature allowing in-store purchases using Apple Pay, enabling U.S. consumers to utilize pay-over-time options at physical checkouts [2][3] - Eligible purchases can be split into biweekly or monthly payments starting at 0% APR, with no late or hidden fees, enhancing consumer flexibility [3][5] - The integration with Apple Pay is expected to bridge the gap between digital and physical retail, making BNPL more accessible for everyday purchases [4][9] Group 2: Partnerships and Industry Impact - Affirm has partnered with ServiceTitan to embed BNPL into the trades industry, allowing homeowners to manage average annual improvement costs of $8,800 through flexible payment plans [5][6] - The collaboration with Vagaro aims to bring flexible payments to beauty, wellness, and fitness businesses, enabling nearly 100,000 U.S. salons and spas to offer personalized payment plans [7][8] - These partnerships are designed to empower contractors and service providers by reducing upfront cost barriers, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty [5][6][9]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) is enhancing its leadership in the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) sector through strategic partnerships with ServiceTitan and Vagaro, expanding its market reach and service offerings [1][8] Group 1: Partnerships and Market Expansion - The collaboration with ServiceTitan allows contractors to offer clients flexible pay-over-time options for home repair projects, addressing the growing demand for affordable payment solutions in the home improvement sector [2] - The partnership with Vagaro connects Affirm to approximately 100,000 businesses in the beauty, wellness, and fitness industries, enabling consumers to manage payments for lifestyle services, thereby increasing sales and customer retention for small businesses [3][8] - These partnerships signify Affirm's strategy to integrate into everyday transactions, enhancing its ecosystem and consumer base for sustained growth in the evolving BNPL landscape [4] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Competitors in the BNPL space include PayPal and Visa, with PayPal reporting 438 million active accounts and a 5% year-over-year increase in net revenues to $8.3 billion in Q2 2025 [5] - Visa experienced a 10% year-over-year increase in processed transactions and an 8% rise in payment volume in Q3 fiscal 2025, alongside a 14% growth in net revenues [6] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, AFRM's shares have increased by 47.7%, outperforming the industry average rise of 23.6% [7] - Affirm's forward price-to-sales ratio stands at 7.03, above the industry average of 5.85, indicating a higher valuation compared to peers [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 473.3% growth in Affirm's fiscal 2026 earnings and a 23.4% year-over-year growth in revenues for the same period [10]

Core Insights - The fintech revolution has significantly changed consumer spending, borrowing, and money movement, highlighting companies like Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Block, Inc. as key players in digital payments [1][2] Affirm Holdings, Inc. - Affirm is a leader in the "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) sector, with active consumers reaching 23 million as of June 30, 2025, and partnerships with major retailers like Shopify, Costco, and Amazon [4][10] - The company reported a gross merchandise volume (GMV) increase of 43% year over year to $10.4 billion, with total revenues growing 33% to $876 million in the last quarter [5][10] - Affirm's long-term debt-to-capital ratio stands at 71.8%, indicating a need for balance sheet improvement, while management is focused on diversifying funding sources [6][7] - The company has a strong consumer engagement rate, with 95% of transactions being repeat purchases in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, and is expanding into international markets [5][7] - Analysts project Affirm's earnings per share (EPS) to increase by 473% in fiscal 2026, supported by strong revenue growth and market positioning [10][13] Block, Inc. - Block has diversified from its original Square POS systems into Cash App, BNPL through Afterpay, and Bitcoin-related revenue streams, but this diversification also introduces volatility [8][12] - In the June quarter of 2025, Block's BNPL GMV reached $9.1 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, but it lags behind Affirm's growth [9][10] - Block's total net revenues decreased by 2% year over year, primarily due to lower Bitcoin contributions, while its adjusted operating margin was 22% compared to Affirm's 27% [11][12] - The company's cash flow to invested capital is at 5.7%, trailing Affirm's 7.7%, indicating less efficiency in converting invested funds into cash [12] - Analysts expect Block's EPS to decline by 23.7% in fiscal 2025, reflecting challenges in growth compared to Affirm [10][14] Market Performance - Affirm's stock has increased by 47.7% year-to-date, indicating strong investor confidence, while Block's stock has declined by 10.9% during the same period [15] - Affirm trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.03, reflecting its growth potential, while Block trades at a lower ratio of 1.76 [19] Conclusion - Affirm is positioned as a focused BNPL leader with strong growth prospects, while Block's diversified ecosystem presents both opportunities and risks due to its exposure to crypto and lower margins [21][22] - Affirm's better earnings growth estimates and efficiency levels suggest a more favorable risk-reward profile compared to Block [22]

Core Viewpoint - Jim Cramer recommends selling Chime (CHYM) stock and buying Affirm Holdings (AFRM) stock, highlighting the contrasting performance and outlook of both companies in the fintech sector [1][4]. Company Analysis Chime - Chime is a neobank that went public in June via an IPO, initially experiencing hype and early gains before a 15% decline from its $27 IPO price [4]. - The company is not consistently profitable, which is a concern as investors increasingly demand profitability and margin expansion in the fintech space [4]. Affirm Holdings - Affirm reported an "exceptionally strong" quarter, achieving new highs in growth and profitability despite the fourth quarter not being its seasonal peak [5]. - The company experienced a 43% year-over-year increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV) to $10.4 billion and a 33% increase in total revenue to $876 million [6]. - Active consumers reached 23 million, up 24% year-over-year, and Affirm reported a net profit of $69 million in Q4, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $45 million in the prior-year quarter [6]. - For the full fiscal 2025, total revenue rose 38.7% to $3.2 billion, with a net income of $52.2 million [6]. - Affirm's repayment performance remains strong, with 95% of transactions involving repeat borrowers, indicating customer loyalty [7]. - The company is expanding into the UK market, which may enhance its growth trajectory [7].

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) has expanded its payment options to include in-store purchases via Apple Pay, enhancing flexibility and choice for users in the US [1][9] - The integration allows users to set up Affirm in the Apple Wallet app and split purchases into biweekly or monthly installments [2][4] Company Developments - Users can initiate Affirm's payment method by double-clicking the side button on their iPhone, selecting Affirm, and completing a quick eligibility check [3] - Affirm offers installment payments with rates starting as low as 0% APR, with no late fees or hidden charges [4] - The adoption of Affirm's payment solutions has led to a 47.2% year-over-year increase in transaction count in fiscal 2025 [5][9] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in the buy now pay later (BNPL) space include PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) and Visa Inc. (V), both of which have a strong market presence [6][7] - PayPal processed 6.2 billion transactions in Q2 2025, with net revenues rising 5% year-over-year to $8.3 billion [6] - Visa's processed transactions increased by 10% year-over-year in Q3 2025, with total revenues advancing 14% year-over-year [7] Financial Performance - Affirm's shares have surged 103.3% over the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 40.3% [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a 473.3% improvement from the previous year, with revenues expected to grow by 23.4% year-over-year [11] - Affirm currently trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 6.99, above the industry average of 5.82 [10]

Core Insights - Affirm has formed partnerships with ServiceTitan and Vagaro to provide pay-over-time options for service providers in various industries, enhancing payment flexibility for consumers and businesses alike [1][4]. Group 1: Partnership with ServiceTitan - The integration with ServiceTitan's digital payments solution allows contractors to offer clients the ability to split home repair bills into biweekly or monthly payments [2]. - ServiceTitan's VP stated that this collaboration will provide a "flexible, responsible" payment option for homeowners, who typically spend an average of $8,800 annually on home improvement [3]. - Affirm's Chief Revenue Officer noted that this payment option helps contractors reduce friction, win more jobs, and improve customer satisfaction [3]. Group 2: Partnership with Vagaro - The partnership with Vagaro enables salons, spas, fitness studios, and wellness providers to offer pay-over-time options during both online and in-store checkouts [4]. - Vagaro's CEO mentioned that this option will assist businesses using the platform in growing and better serving their customers [4]. - Affirm's Senior VP highlighted that this initiative will provide consumers with "more choice and control at checkout" [4]. Group 3: Growth and Market Trends - Affirm reported a 39% growth in the services category during the June quarter, which now constitutes 3% of the company's overall mix [4]. - The CEO of Affirm indicated that the demand for their services is accelerating, as evidenced by a new record in gross merchandise volume (GMV) [5]. - The evolution of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services is characterized by increased consumer trust and a desire for predictability and control over repayment [5][6].

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings Inc. has announced two significant partnerships to expand its "buy now, pay later" services into new markets [1][2] - The collaborations are with ServiceTitan Inc. and Vagaro, targeting sectors with high-cost services [1][2] Group 1: Partnerships - Affirm has entered a multi-year agreement with ServiceTitan, allowing homeowners to pay for repairs and upgrades in biweekly or monthly installments, with no hidden or late fees [3] - The average household spends approximately $8,800 annually on home improvements, highlighting the need for flexible financing options [3] - The partnership with Vagaro will enable nearly 100,000 businesses to offer Affirm's installment plans at checkout, both online and in-person [4] Group 2: Market Positioning - By integrating its services within these platforms, Affirm aims to become a preferred payment option in markets where high costs deter consumer spending [2] - Vagaro's CEO emphasized that the partnership will provide customers with a "flexible, responsible way" to pay, while also supporting business growth [4] Group 3: Stock Performance - Affirm's stock has seen a significant increase of over 97% in the past year, although it was trading lower by 1.77% to $87.85 at the latest check [5]