Core Viewpoint - Wall Street experienced a disappointing first quarter of 2025, with concerns over the Trump administration's tariff and trade policies impacting U.S. economic growth and inflation rates [1] Group 1: Growth Stocks Recommendations - Five growth stocks identified for purchase in April include AppLovin Corp. (APP), Marvell Technology Inc. (MRVL), Reddit Inc. (RDDT), Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM), and EMCOR Group Inc. (EME) [2] - Each selected stock has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Growth Score of A or B [2] Group 2: AppLovin Corp. (APP) - AppLovin provides a software platform for mobile app developers to enhance marketing and monetization [5] - The introduction of AI-powered AXON 2.0 technology and expansion in gaming studios have significantly boosted revenue growth [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 20.4% and 51.7%, respectively [7] - The short-term average price target indicates a potential increase of 90.7% from the last closing price of $282.70, with a target range of $200 to $650 [8] Group 3: Marvell Technology Inc. (MRVL) - Marvell Technology is experiencing strong demand in the data center market, with revenues increasing 98% year over year [9] - The company is well-positioned in the solid-state drive controllers' market due to growing data volume [10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 43.8% and 75.8%, respectively [12] - The short-term average price target suggests a potential increase of 96.6% from the last closing price of $62.67, with a target range of $90 to $188 [13] Group 4: Reddit Inc. (RDDT) - Reddit operates a digital community platform that facilitates user engagement and community building [14] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 40.4% and over 100%, respectively [15] - The short-term average price target indicates an increase of 85.1% from the last closing price of $110.05, with a target range of $75 to $235 [16] Group 5: Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm has achieved strong revenue growth through diverse income streams and key partnerships, including with Apple Pay [17][18] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 36.9% and 89.2%, respectively [19] - The average short-term price target suggests a potential increase of 64.4% from the last closing price of $45.51, with a target range of $56 to $86 [20] Group 6: EMCOR Group Inc. (EME) - EMCOR Group benefits from resilient demand in sectors such as semiconductors and healthcare, with remaining performance obligations of $10.1 billion, up 14.2% year over year [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 12.8% and 8.6%, respectively [23] - The average short-term price target indicates a potential increase of 33.5% from the last closing price of $375.50, with a target range of $445 to $515 [24]

Core Viewpoint - The Portnoy Law Firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud involving Affirm Holdings, Inc. and may file a class action on behalf of affected investors [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - Klarna has announced it will replace Affirm as Walmart's exclusive provider of Buy Now, Pay Later loans ahead of its U.S. initial public offering [2]. - Following the announcement of Klarna's partnership with Walmart, Affirm's stock price dropped by $6.38 per share, representing a decline of 12.74%, closing at $43.70 on March 18, 2025 [3]. Group 2: Legal Actions - Investors who have incurred losses are encouraged to contact the Portnoy Law Firm for a complimentary case evaluation and to discuss their legal rights [2]. - The Portnoy Law Firm has a history of recovering over $5.5 billion for investors affected by corporate wrongdoing [3].

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings Inc. is responding to competitive pressures in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) market, particularly following Walmart's exclusive partnership with Klarna, by forming a significant new partnership with J.P. Morgan Payments [1][2][4]. Group 1: Competitive Landscape - The BNPL sector is highly competitive, with companies like Affirm and Klarna vying for market share and merchant partnerships [2][3]. - Walmart's decision to partner with Klarna has negatively impacted Affirm's stock, which saw a decline of nearly 12% following the announcement [4][5]. - The competitive dynamics are influenced by evolving consumer preferences and increased regulatory scrutiny, creating a volatile environment for BNPL providers [3]. Group 2: Strategic Partnerships - Affirm's partnership with J.P. Morgan Payments allows U.S. merchants to integrate Affirm's BNPL options into their checkout processes, significantly expanding Affirm's reach [6][9]. - This collaboration is expected to mitigate the impact of losing Walmart as a partner by diversifying Affirm's merchant base [9][10]. - The partnership reinforces Affirm's positioning as a provider that meets critical needs for both merchants and consumers, enhancing its competitive edge [7][10]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Outlook - Affirm's recent Q2 fiscal year 2025 earnings exceeded expectations, with an EPS of $0.23 and a revenue growth of 47% year-over-year [15]. - The company's Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) grew by 35%, indicating strong demand for its services [15]. - Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy rating for Affirm, with an average price target of $69.76, suggesting potential undervaluation given the current trading price of $46.20 [12][13][16]. Group 4: Investment Considerations - The recent dip in Affirm's stock price may present a buying opportunity for long-term investors, especially in light of the company's strong growth metrics and new strategic partnerships [17][16]. - Affirm's strategy of diversifying its partnerships and expanding into new verticals creates a more resilient business model, less vulnerable to the loss of any single partner [11][17].

Group 1 - Louis Stevens is a former U.S. Army engineer officer with an MBA and a BA in political science, recognized as a leading analyst in the investing community, ranking in the top 0.1% according to TipRanks [1] - Louis created L.A. Stevens Research, which includes the LAS Index, a basket of stocks selected through a proprietary investment method that has consistently outperformed market indices since its inception [2] - The research and investment services provided by Louis cater to a diverse audience, including beginners, busy professionals, and seasoned fund managers [2]

Company Performance - Affirm Holdings closed at $47.38, down 1.95% from the previous trading session, underperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.33% [1] - The company's shares have decreased by 25.13% over the past month, while the Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 lost 7.14% and 4.03%, respectively [1] Upcoming Financial Results - Affirm Holdings is expected to report an EPS of -$0.08, reflecting an 81.4% growth compared to the same quarter last year [2] - The projected revenue for the upcoming release is $781.66 million, which represents a 35.67% increase from the previous year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, the consensus estimates indicate an EPS of -$0.15 and revenue of $3.18 billion, showing increases of 91.02% and 36.78% from the prior year [3] - Recent changes in analyst estimates suggest positive sentiment regarding the company's business and profitability [3] Analyst Ratings and Performance - The Zacks Rank system, which evaluates estimated changes, currently ranks Affirm Holdings as 2 (Buy) [5] - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has increased by 13.48% in the past month, indicating positive analyst revisions [5] Industry Context - Affirm Holdings operates within the Internet - Software industry, which is part of the Computer and Technology sector, holding a Zacks Industry Rank of 73, placing it in the top 30% of over 250 industries [6] - Strong industry rankings correlate with better stock performance, with top-rated industries outperforming lower-rated ones by a factor of 2 to 1 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings Inc is experiencing a decline in stock price, currently trading at $46.87, marking a 3% drop and a 28.3% year-to-date deficit, but there are indications of a potential recovery with a new bull signal emerging [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock has fallen from a three-year high of $82.52 on February 18, but this decline may be temporary as bullish signals are appearing [1]. - Affirm is currently trading within one standard deviation of its 200-day moving average, a position that historically has led to gains [2]. - In the past three years, similar trading conditions have resulted in Affirm's stock being higher a month later 75% of the time, with an average gain of 27.8%, suggesting a potential rise to just below $60 [3]. Group 2: Market Sentiment - There is a notable unwinding of pessimism in the options market, with a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.08, which is higher than 96% of annual readings, indicating a potential tailwind for the shares [4].

Core Viewpoint - Brokerage recommendations, particularly for Affirm Holdings (AFRM), suggest a positive outlook, but their reliability is questioned due to potential biases from brokerage firms [2][4][9]. Brokerage Recommendation Summary - Affirm Holdings has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.67, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, with 66.7% of the 21 recommendations being Strong Buy [2]. - Despite the positive ABR, studies indicate that brokerage recommendations often fail to effectively guide investors towards stocks with significant price appreciation potential [4][9]. Zacks Rank Comparison - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which are more reliable indicators of near-term stock performance [7][10]. - The Zacks Rank for Affirm Holdings is 2 (Buy), reflecting a 13.5% increase in the consensus earnings estimate for the current year to -$0.15, indicating growing optimism among analysts [12][13]. Freshness and Timeliness - The ABR may not always be up-to-date, while the Zacks Rank reflects timely revisions based on current business trends, making it a more effective tool for predicting future price movements [11].

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. is expanding its payment solutions through partnerships with JPMorgan Chase & Co. and FuturHealth, which will enhance its merchant reach and diversify its consumer base [1] Group 1: Partnerships and Market Expansion - The agreement with J.P. Morgan Payments integrates Affirm's payment solutions into their Commerce Platform, allowing thousands of U.S. merchants to offer pay-over-time plans, potentially driving significant revenue growth [2] - In the healthcare sector, the partnership with FuturHealth will provide pay-over-time options for GLP-1 medications and wellness services, addressing affordability concerns for treatments like Wegovy and Ozempic [3] - Affirm has experienced a 90% year-over-year growth in provider partnerships, positioning the company to expand its influence in healthcare financing [3] Group 2: Financial Performance and Projections - Affirm's Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) increased by 35% year-over-year to over $10 billion in Q4 2024, with expectations for fiscal 2025 GMV to be between $34.74 billion and $35.34 billion [4] - The strategic collaborations are expected to strengthen Affirm's market presence, drive transaction volume, and enhance credibility, especially as more consumers turn to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solutions amid rising inflation [4] Group 3: Stock Performance - Over the past year, Affirm's shares have gained 36.4%, outperforming the industry growth of 19.3%, and currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5]

Core Insights - Affirm is expanding its buy now, pay later (BNPL) services through a new partnership with J.P. Morgan Payments, allowing merchants on the J.P. Morgan Payments network to offer Affirm's payment solutions at checkout [1] - The collaboration comes as Affirm experiences significant growth, with active customer numbers reaching 21 million, a 23% increase year over year [2] - The partnership aims to enhance the retail experience by integrating Affirm into J.P. Morgan's Commerce Platform, meeting the rising demand for flexible payment options [3] Industry Developments - Affirm plans to start reporting all payment plans to Experian, which is expected to help consumers build their credit histories and manage finances better [3][4] - The expanded credit reporting initiative aligns with a broader trend in the BNPL industry towards incorporating BNPL loans into credit and underwriting decisions [5] - FICO is also working to include BNPL data in credit scoring, with studies indicating that 85% of consumers who opened new BNPL accounts saw consistent impacts on their FICO scores [6] Consumer Impact - The inclusion of BNPL in credit scoring may lead consumers to avoid "stacking" short-term loans, promoting better debt management and improved credit scores [7]

Core Insights - Affirm has reached an agreement with JPMorgan Chase to offer its buy now, pay later loan services to merchants on JPMorgan's payments network [1][4] - This partnership allows U.S. merchants using JPMorgan for payments to integrate Affirm into their checkout processes, providing consumers with loan options ranging from 30 days to 60 months [1] - The deal follows a similar agreement made by rival Klarna, indicating increasing competition in the buy now, pay later sector as both companies aim for growth and market share [2] Company Developments - Affirm's collaboration with JPMorgan is an expansion of existing banking and processing relationships, enhancing its service offerings [4] - The demand for diverse payment options and seamless transactions is at an all-time high, as noted by JPMorgan's global head of merchant services [3] - The integration of Affirm into JPMorgan's Commerce Platform is aimed at empowering businesses to meet customer expectations in the retail journey [3]