Market Overview - The U.S. equity markets have reached record highs, driven by strong quarterly earnings across all sectors, particularly from blue-chip technology stocks, highlighting the impact of AI infrastructure spending on investor sentiment [1] - Renewed trade deals between the U.S. and its trading partners have contributed to positive market conditions, with investors looking for clarity on potential interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve [1] Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investing is characterized by the strategy of "buying high and selling higher," based on the belief that stocks with established trends are likely to continue in that direction [3] - This strategy has been shown to generate alpha over time and across various market conditions, although it requires skill in detecting trends [4] Screening Parameters for Momentum Stocks - The screening process identifies the top 50 stocks with the best percentage price change over the last 52 weeks, ensuring selection of stocks that have appreciated steadily [5] - From these, the bottom 10 performers over the past week are chosen to identify those experiencing short-term pullbacks [6] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Style Score of B or better are prioritized, indicating a higher probability of success [7] Selected Momentum Stocks - Netflix (NFLX) has seen an 86.2% increase over the past year but a 7.3% decline in the last week, earning a Momentum Score of A [8] - Robinhood Markets (HOOD) has surged 381.3% in the past year but dropped 3.3% last week, also holding a Momentum Score of A [10] - Affirm Holdings (AFRM) has gained 148.7% annually with a 5.2% decline last week, resulting in a Momentum Score of B [11]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. and Affirm Holdings are positioned at the forefront of the payments landscape, with Visa as a long-established card network and Affirm as a rapidly growing fintech innovator in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space [1][2] Group 1: Visa's Position - Visa reported Q2 fiscal 2025 net revenue of $9.6 billion, a 9.3% year-over-year increase, driven by an 8% gain in payments volume and strong cross-border growth [3] - Visa's extensive global network captures over half of the purchase volume in the U.S. and billions of digital transactions, providing a durable competitive advantage [3][4] - The company returned $5.6 billion to shareholders through buybacks in the last quarter and has a new $30 billion repurchase authorization, indicating strong cash flow [4] - Visa is expanding into digital payments through Visa Direct and investing in real-time payments infrastructure to adapt to a digitizing financial landscape [5] - Visa's business model is primarily fee-based and dependent on banks and merchants, which may be less appealing to tech-savvy consumers seeking speed and flexibility [6] Group 2: Affirm's Growth - Affirm's revenues increased by 36% year-over-year to $783.1 million in Q3 FY25, supported by higher gross merchandise volume and expanded merchant relationships [7] - The active consumer count for Affirm rose to 21.9 million, with transactions per active user growing by 21.7%, indicating rising engagement [7] - Affirm operates outside traditional credit-card networks, partnering with major retailers like Shopify and Amazon, allowing it to directly tap into consumer spending [8] - The company has diversified its funding model with 24 securitizations totaling $12.25 billion and over 150 capital partners, showcasing operational maturity [10] - Affirm is expanding internationally through partnerships and is investing in new offerings like debit cards and B2B tools to diversify its business [11] Group 3: Financial Comparisons - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 EPS indicates a 101.8% year-over-year improvement, while Visa's is projected at 13.1% [13] - On a price-to-sales basis, Visa trades at 15.04X forward revenues, significantly above the industry average of 6.30X, while Affirm's price-to-sales multiple is at 5.41X, indicating potential for growth [14] - In the past year, Visa has returned 32.5%, while Affirm has delivered a remarkable 127.5% return, reflecting their respective revenue growth and market performance [16] Group 4: Conclusion - Visa continues to dominate global payments with scale and profitability, but its growth is tied to economic activity [19] - Affirm is benefiting from structural tailwinds and a flexible payment model, positioning it for future growth [20] - Despite higher leverage, Affirm's valuation reflects its growth potential, making it a compelling investment opportunity for those seeking exposure to the evolving fintech landscape [21]

Company Performance - Affirm Holdings (AFRM) closed at $66.75, reflecting a -3.12% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500 which gained 0.14% [1] - Over the past month, shares of Affirm Holdings have increased by 11.02%, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 7.37% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.35% [1] Upcoming Financial Results - The upcoming earnings report for Affirm Holdings is expected to show an EPS of $0.1, representing a 171.43% increase year-over-year [2] - Revenue is anticipated to reach $838.52 million, indicating a 27.21% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] Fiscal Year Projections - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $0.03 per share, reflecting a +101.8% change from the prior year, while revenue is expected to remain at $3.18 billion, unchanged from the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates and Stock Performance - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Affirm Holdings suggest positive short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating a favorable business outlook [3] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently ranks Affirm Holdings as 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for stock price performance [5] Valuation Metrics - Affirm Holdings has a Forward P/E ratio of 93.83, significantly higher than the industry average of 29.16, indicating a premium valuation [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.63, compared to the Internet - Software industry average PEG ratio of 2.2 [6] Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 79, placing it in the top 32% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that industries in the top 50% of the Zacks Rank tend to outperform those in the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings Inc (AFRM) is focusing on vertical integration to enhance profitability in the competitive Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry, amidst regulatory pressures and high interest rates [1][4] Vertical Integration Strategy - The company is taking control of the entire BNPL value chain, including underwriting, loan origination, servicing, and collections, using its own in-house algorithm for creditworthiness assessment [2][9] - This strategy allows for better risk-based pricing, quicker approvals, and greater control over loan performance [2][9] Funding and Profitability - AFRM is increasingly relying on in-house funding, blending its balance sheet with warehouse credit funding to reduce dependence on expensive external capital, thereby improving its net interest margin [3][9] - This structural shift is expected to mitigate the impact of rising costs of funds, which pose challenges to profitability for many BNPL companies [3] Financial Performance - In Q3 of fiscal 2025, AFRM's total revenues increased by 36% year over year, and its adjusted operating margin improved by 860 basis points [4][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a growth of 101.8% compared to the previous year [11] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) and Block, Inc. (XYZ) have different approaches; PayPal manages the entire value chain efficiently, while Afterpay, part of Block, is less vertically integrated and relies on Block's capital access [5][6] Valuation Metrics - AFRM's shares have increased by 131.9% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 41.8% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.64, slightly below the industry average of 5.7 [10]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) has established a strong technology infrastructure that supports a significant increase in transaction volume, with approximately 358,000 active merchants as of March 31, 2025 [1] Company Performance - The company's revenue is closely linked to transaction volume, which saw a 46% year-over-year increase in Q3 of fiscal 2025 [2][8] - Affirm's 0% APR monthly installment GMV increased by 44% year-over-year in Q3 fiscal 2025, although this impacts interest margins negatively [3][8] - The company is focusing on attracting higher-quality borrowers through 0% APR plans, which can enhance conversion metrics and reduce risk [3] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) market include PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) and Visa Inc. (V), both of which have a strong market presence [4] - PayPal processed 6 billion transactions in Q1 2025, with net revenues rising 1% year-over-year to $7.8 billion [5] - Visa's processed transactions increased by 9% year-over-year in Q2 fiscal 2025, with total revenues advancing 9% year-over-year [6] Valuation and Estimates - Affirm's shares have increased by 104.9% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 42.3% [7] - The forward price-to-sales ratio for AFRM is 5.38, which is below the industry average [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a 101.8% improvement year-over-year, with revenue growth projected at 37% [12]

Core Viewpoint - Michelin has received strong credit ratings from both Scope Ratings and Moody's, indicating a solid business risk profile and improving credit metrics [2][3]. Group 1: Credit Ratings - Scope Ratings affirmed Michelin's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'A' with a Stable outlook on July 11, 2025, reflecting a solid business risk profile and very strong credit metrics [2]. - Moody's affirmed its Long-Term rating of 'A2' with a Stable outlook on July 9, 2025, highlighting Michelin's attractive margins and strong brand recognition [3]. Group 2: Business Strengths - Michelin's strong credit ratings are supported by its unique market position, innovation capabilities, and brand recognition, which contribute to its attractive margins [3].

Group 1 - Affirm Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:AFRM) shares are down 1% to $64.06 following a downgrade from BTIG Research to "neutral" from "buy" due to increased competition from traditional lenders like Capital One Financial and Synchrony Financial [1] - The stock is experiencing its third consecutive daily drop after a rally that reached four-month highs earlier this month, with the 40-day moving average providing support at the $60 level [2] - Year-to-date, the equity has increased by 5% [2] Group 2 - In the options market, call volume remains high with 11,000 calls exchanged, while put volume has surged to 8,293, which is three times the typical volume [3] - The most popular options are the March 70 call and the July 63 put, with new positions being sold to open at the latter [3] - Short interest has decreased but still represents 5.3% of the stock's available float, requiring over two days to cover at the average trading pace [3]

Group 1: Company Performance - Affirm Holdings (AFRM) closed at $64.72, reflecting a -5.58% change from the previous day, which is less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.33% [1] - Over the past month, shares of Affirm Holdings have appreciated by 12.28%, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 5.24% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.07% [1] Group 2: Earnings Projections - The upcoming earnings release for Affirm Holdings is projected to show earnings per share (EPS) of $0.09, indicating a 164.29% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is expected to reach $835.09 million, reflecting a 26.69% increase compared to the year-ago quarter [2] - For the full year, earnings are projected at $0.03 per share and revenue at $3.18 billion, representing changes of +101.8% and 0%, respectively, from the prior year [3] Group 3: Analyst Estimates and Rankings - Recent modifications to analyst estimates for Affirm Holdings indicate changing near-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting analysts' confidence in business performance [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which includes estimate changes, currently ranks Affirm Holdings at 3 (Hold) [6] Group 4: Valuation Metrics - Affirm Holdings is trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 97.46, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 28.6 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.49, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 2.21 [7] Group 5: Industry Context - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 67, placing it in the top 28% of all industries [8]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) is focused on reinventing payments through a diverse merchant network, which has grown to approximately 358,000 active merchants as of March 31, 2025, up from around 292,000 the previous year [1][10] Merchant Network and Partnerships - The merchant partners of Affirm span various industries, including fashion, electronics, travel, and home and lifestyle, utilizing Affirm's buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions to enhance average order values and customer conversion rates [2] - Recent partnerships include collaborations with Shopmonkey and Xsolla, extending payment solutions to auto repairs and game developers, while partnerships with Williams-Sonoma and KAYAK facilitated entry into the Canadian market [3] Financial Performance - In the first nine months of fiscal 2025, Affirm's gross merchandise volume (GMV) reached $26.3 billion, reflecting a 36% year-over-year increase, with expectations for fiscal 2025 GMV to be between $35.7 billion and $36 billion, indicating a 34.8% rise at the midpoint [5][10] - Merchant network revenues improved by 30% year-over-year during the same period [10] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in the BNPL space include PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) and Sezzle Inc. (SEZL), with PayPal reporting over 36 million merchants globally and a 1% year-over-year revenue increase to $7.8 billion [6][7] - Sezzle's merchant base exceeds 40,000 businesses, with total revenues more than doubling year-over-year to $104.9 million, supported by a 64.1% rise in GMV [8] Stock Performance and Valuation - Affirm's stock has surged 132.1% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 41.2% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.61, which is below the industry average of 5.88 [12] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a 101.8% improvement from the previous year, with revenue growth projected at 37% year-over-year [14]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) is adapting its strategy in the competitive Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market by focusing on transparency and flexible financing options for both high-ticket and low-ticket purchases [1][4] Group 1: Company Strategy and Performance - Affirm is shifting its focus from primarily financing larger purchases to collaborating with retailers for smaller, everyday items, such as Costco and World Market, to attract a broader audience [2][8] - Total transactions in Q3 FY25 increased by 45.6% year over year, reaching 31.3 million, driven by a significant rise in repeat customer transactions [2][8] - The number of active merchants for Affirm reached 358,000, marking a 23% year-over-year increase, as the company invests in machine learning-driven underwriting and real-time decision-making [3][8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like PayPal and Block are also active in the BNPL space, with PayPal's net revenues rising 1% year over year to $7.8 billion in Q1 2025, and Block's Gross Payment Volume increasing by 4.4% year over year [5][6] - PayPal's offerings, such as "Pay Monthly" and "Pay in 4," directly compete with Affirm's business model, targeting both high-ticket and low-ticket purchases [5] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Valuation - Affirm's stock has appreciated by 133.3% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry average increase of 38.3% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.66, which is below the industry average of 5.81 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's fiscal 2025 earnings suggests a remarkable growth of 101.8% compared to the previous year [10]