Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year increase in earnings for Affirm Holdings due to higher revenues, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Affirm Holdings is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.08 per share, reflecting an 81.4% improvement year-over-year, with revenues projected at $783.11 million, a 35.9% increase from the previous year [3]. - The earnings report is scheduled for May 8, 2025, and could lead to stock price increases if results exceed expectations [2]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 4.88% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP model suggests that recent estimate revisions may provide insights into business conditions leading up to the earnings release [5][6]. Earnings Surprise Potential - Affirm Holdings has a positive Earnings ESP of +63.27%, indicating a strong likelihood of beating the consensus EPS estimate, supported by a Zacks Rank of 1 [11]. - The company has a history of exceeding consensus EPS estimates, having done so in the last four quarters, including a significant surprise of +215% in the last reported quarter [12][13]. Conclusion - Affirm Holdings is positioned as a compelling candidate for an earnings beat, but investors should consider additional factors beyond earnings results when making investment decisions [16].

Core Insights - Founder-led companies, while representing less than 5% of the S&P 500 index, contribute significantly to the market, accounting for nearly 15% of the total index's market capitalization, particularly in the technology sector [3][4]. Group 1: Founder-led Companies - Founders exhibit a unique passion and risk appetite, often leading to innovative and successful ventures that reflect their core values [2][5]. - Notable founder-led companies include NVIDIA, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, and Netflix, which have redefined industries and created trillion-dollar valuations [3]. Group 2: Performance of Founder-led Companies - A Harvard Business Review study indicates that founder-led companies achieved a market-adjusted return of 12% over three years, contrasting with a negative 26% return for companies with professional CEOs [7]. - Current appealing stocks identified include Netflix, Intercontinental Exchange, and Affirm Holdings [7]. Group 3: Netflix - Netflix, co-founded by Reed Hastings, has a market capitalization of $387.7 billion and has transitioned from DVD rentals to a leading streaming service [9]. - The company is focusing on expanding its original content portfolio and has launched low-priced mobile plans in various countries to drive international growth [11]. - Netflix projects revenues between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion for 2025, with an operating margin of 29% [13]. Group 4: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) - ICE, founded by Jeffrey Sprecher, has a market capitalization of $95.6 billion and has reported record net revenues and earnings for 19 consecutive years [14]. - The company is well-positioned for growth due to the digitization of the U.S. residential mortgage industry and the integration of Ellie Mae into its operations [16]. Group 5: Affirm - Affirm, with a market capitalization of $16.3 billion, is a key player in the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) segment, collaborating with over 337,000 active merchant partners [18]. - The company aims for profitability starting in Q4 of fiscal 2025 and is planning international expansion into Australia and Western Europe [19].

Core Viewpoint - Affirm Holdings (AFRM) is showing potential for a bullish trend as it has recently reached a key support level and surpassed the 50-day moving average, indicating a positive short-term outlook [1]. Technical Analysis - The 50-day simple moving average is a significant indicator for traders and analysts, marking the first sign of an up or down trend, and is currently showing that AFRM is in a bullish phase [2]. - Over the past four weeks, shares of AFRM have increased by 10.7%, reflecting a positive momentum in the stock [2]. Earnings Estimates - Recent revisions in earnings estimates for AFRM show one upward revision with no downward revisions for the current fiscal year, indicating growing confidence among investors [3]. - The consensus estimate for AFRM has also increased, further supporting the bullish sentiment around the stock [3]. - Given the positive technical indicators and earnings estimate revisions, AFRM is recommended for inclusion on investors' watchlists [3].

Industry Overview - Software has become central to technological innovation, benefiting from increased demand for digital transformation and cloud migration, although weakened consumer spending is impacting the industry [1] - Enterprises are delaying large IT expenditures due to a challenging global economy characterized by inflation, high interest rates, and unfavorable foreign exchange rates, which may negatively affect earnings this season [1] Positive Trends - The rise of software-as-a-service (SaaS), cloud platform migration, and demand for hybrid work solutions are significant tailwinds for companies like Affirm Holdings, Block, BILL Holdings, and Atlassian [2] - Increased adoption of cloud services, IoT, AR/VR devices, and 5G deployment are expected to enhance software stock performance this earnings season [3] - The growing threat of cyberattacks is driving enterprises to invest more in cloud-based security solutions, favoring software-defined models over traditional hardware [4] Business Models and Innovations - A customer-centric approach allows users to perform actions with minimal provider intervention, while pay-as-you-go and subscription models ensure recurring revenues [5] - The proliferation of AI-powered solutions in various sectors is expected to benefit industry players [6] Company-Specific Insights - Affirm Holdings is set to report Q3 fiscal 2025 results with a Zacks Rank 1 and an Earnings ESP of +63.27%, projecting revenues of $783.1 million, a 35.9% year-over-year increase [9][10] - Block is scheduled to report Q1 2025 results with an Earnings ESP of +7.52% and a Zacks Rank 3, estimating revenues of $6.18 billion, reflecting a 3.8% year-over-year improvement [13][14] - BILL Holdings is expected to report Q3 fiscal 2025 results with a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +0.30%, forecasting revenues of $354.8 million, a 9.8% increase year-over-year [15][16] - Atlassian is set to report Q3 fiscal 2025 results with a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +0.93%, estimating revenues of $1.35 billion, compared to $1.19 billion in the year-ago quarter [18][19]

Core Viewpoint - U.S. stock markets are experiencing high volatility due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, leading to significant price drops in several stocks, making them attractive investment opportunities in the short term [1]. Group 1: Recommended Stocks - Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM), Marvell Technology Inc. (MRVL), Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI), QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM), and Edison International (EIX) are identified as stocks with strong revenue and earnings potential for 2025, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions in the last 60 days [2]. Group 2: Affirm Holdings Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm Holdings has diverse income streams, expecting revenues between $3.13 billion and $3.19 billion in fiscal 2025, driven by growing active merchant numbers and improving gross merchandise value [3][4]. - Key partnerships, including those with Apple Pay and Hotels.com, are crucial for AFRM's expansion, which has also entered the UK market [4]. - AFRM has an expected revenue growth rate of 37.1% and earnings growth rate of 96.4% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings improving by 53.8% in the last 30 days [5]. - The stock is trading at a 40.5% discount from its 52-week high, with a potential upside of 75.2% based on brokerage target prices [6]. Group 3: Marvell Technology Inc. (MRVL) - Marvell Technology is experiencing strong demand in the data center market, with revenues increasing by 98% year-over-year, driven by AI-related products [7][9]. - MRVL has an expected revenue growth rate of 43.8% and earnings growth rate of 75.8% for the current year, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [11]. - The stock is trading at a 53.7% discount from its 52-week high, with a potential upside of 219.1% based on brokerage target prices [12]. Group 4: Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) - Super Micro Computer manufactures IT solutions for AI, Cloud, and 5G technologies, with its products gaining traction in the market [13][14]. - SMCI has an expected revenue growth rate of 59.2% and earnings growth rate of 14% for the current year [16]. - The stock is trading at a 64% discount from its 52-week high, with a potential upside of 174.2% based on brokerage target prices [18]. Group 5: QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) - QUALCOMM is transitioning to a connected processor firm, benefiting from 5G technology and strategic collaborations, including one with Google for AI solutions [19][20]. - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 11.9% and earnings growth rate of 16% for the current year, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [22]. - The stock is trading at a 35.6% discount from its 52-week high, with a potential upside of 68.3% based on brokerage target prices [24]. Group 6: Edison International (EIX) - Edison International plans to invest $26.6 billion to $31.5 billion from 2025 to 2028 to enhance its infrastructure and expand its renewable energy portfolio [25]. - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 2.8% and earnings growth rate of 19.7% for the current year, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [28]. - The stock is trading at a 34.6% discount from its 52-week high, with a potential upside of 48.3% based on brokerage target prices [30].

Group 1 - Affirm Holdings closed at $49.13, reflecting a +1.92% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.74% [1] - The stock gained 1.73% over the previous month, surpassing the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 6.23% and the S&P 500's loss of 4.77% [1] Group 2 - The upcoming earnings report on May 8, 2025, is expected to show an EPS of -$0.08, which is an 81.4% increase compared to the same quarter last year, with revenue anticipated at $783.11 million, indicating a 35.92% increase year-over-year [2] - Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of -$0.06 per share and revenue of $3.18 billion, representing year-over-year changes of +96.41% and +37.08%, respectively [3] Group 3 - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Affirm Holdings suggest a favorable outlook on the company's business health and profitability [4] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that Affirm Holdings is currently rated 1 (Strong Buy), with a 56.58% increase in the EPS estimate over the last 30 days [6] Group 4 - The Internet - Software industry, part of the Computer and Technology sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 87, placing it in the top 36% of all industries [7]

Core Viewpoint - The Schall Law Firm is investigating claims against Affirm Holdings, Inc. for potential violations of securities laws following a significant drop in its stock price after losing a major partnership with Walmart to rival Klarna [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Affirm Holdings, Inc. is a fintech company that offers Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services [2]. - The company has recently faced challenges due to competition, particularly from Klarna, which has taken over as Walmart's exclusive BNPL provider [2]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Following the announcement of Klarna replacing Affirm as Walmart's BNPL provider, Affirm's shares fell by more than 12.7% the next day [2]. Group 3: Legal Investigation - The investigation by the Schall Law Firm focuses on whether Affirm made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose important information to investors [2].

Core Insights - Affirm will start reporting all pay-over-time loans to TransUnion from May 1, including Pay in 4 and longer-term monthly installments [1] - Transactions will be visible on consumers' TransUnion credit files but will not affect traditional credit scores; future credit scoring models may incorporate this data [2] - Affirm's initiative aims to make its financial products more mainstream, with 53% of non-BNPL users likely to consider using it if it could improve their credit scores [3] Industry Impact - Affirm's loan reporting to TransUnion is seen as a significant milestone for the BNPL industry, allowing millions of consumers to receive credit for their payment behavior [4] - The company has also begun furnishing information to Experian, expanding its credit reporting to include pay-over-time products [5] - The evolution of BNPL into a trusted service is emphasized by Affirm's CEO, highlighting the control consumers have over their payment schedules [5]

Group 1 - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Affirm Holdings, Inc. regarding potential securities fraud or unlawful business practices by the company and its officers or directors [1] - On March 17, 2025, Klarna announced it would replace Affirm as the exclusive provider of Buy Now, Pay Later loans for Walmart, leading to a significant drop in Affirm's stock price by $6.38 per share, or 12.74%, closing at $43.70 per share on March 18, 2025 [3]

Core Insights - The fintech sector is experiencing significant growth, with the global market expected to reach $1.13 trillion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2025 to 2032 [2] - Block (XYZ) and Affirm (AFRM) are key players in this sector, each leveraging unique strengths to capitalize on market opportunities [1][2] Company Analysis: Block (XYZ) - Block is seeing strong engagement with its Cash App, which had 2.5 million paycheck deposit actives in December, marking a 25% year-over-year increase [3] - Cash App Borrow has reached 5 million monthly active users, contributing to the ecosystem's growth [4] - The BNPL platform of Block grew 19% year-over-year, achieving $10.3 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in Q4 2024 [5] - Investments in AI and open-source innovation are expected to enhance long-term growth and operational efficiency [6] Company Analysis: Affirm (AFRM) - Affirm is benefiting from strong consumer demand for flexible payment options, with over 337,000 active merchant partners as of December 31, 2024 [7] - The company reported a 34.7% year-over-year increase in GMV, reaching $10.1 billion in Q2 of fiscal 2025 [8] - Strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Shopify and Revolve Group, are facilitating international expansion [9][10] Price Performance and Valuation - In the trailing twelve months, AFRM shares increased by 31.7%, while XYZ shares decreased by 24.8% [11] - Valuation metrics indicate that both stocks are currently overvalued, with AFRM trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 3.53X compared to XYZ's 1.24X [13] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XYZ's 2025 earnings is $4.12 per share, reflecting a 22.26% year-over-year increase [16] - AFRM's consensus estimate indicates a loss of 6 cents per share for fiscal 2025, but this represents a 96.41% year-over-year improvement [16] - AFRM has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 84.09%, compared to XYZ's 11.25% [17] Conclusion - Affirm's strong fundamentals, positive earnings outlook, and expanding international presence make it a more attractive investment compared to Block, which faces macroeconomic challenges and stiff competition [17][18]