This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Companies like Stripe and Affirm Holdings, which have applied for federal and state banking charters in recent months, are looking for greater control and greater flexibility, in addition to cost savings, according to analysts and consultants who follow the payments industry.  Other companies pursuing state and federal charters include PayPal, Revolut, Fiserv and ...

Wall Street analysts forecast that Affirm Holdings (AFRM) will report quarterly earnings of $0.28 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 21.7%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $1.06 billion, exhibiting an increase of 22% compared to the year-ago quarter.The current level reflects a downward revision of 8.7% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraise ...

Core Insights - Expedia Group and Affirm have announced an expanded multi-year partnership, making Affirm the exclusive provider of BNPL installment payment methods for lodging and packages across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo [1] - The partnership will also extend to Canadian travelers on select properties in the near future [1] Payment Options - Eligible travelers can receive real-time approval decisions and choose customized monthly payment plans of up to 24 months when shopping for hotels and packages [2] - In the US, eligible travelers can access 0% APR offers on three- or six-month plans [2] Strategic Vision - The partnership aims to empower travelers by providing clarity and confidence in payment options, enhancing their ability to plan meaningful experiences [3] - The integration of payment choice and transparency is becoming increasingly important in the booking experience, especially with the rise of AI-powered tools [3] Market Position - Affirm has been a partner of Expedia Group for a decade, indicating a long-standing relationship that adapts to changing consumer preferences regarding payment methods [4] - Expedia Group is part of a network of nearly 420,000 merchants globally that trust Affirm for flexible payment options, including major brands like Amazon and Costco [4]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings, Inc. and Expedia Group, Inc. have expanded their travel payment partnership, making Affirm the exclusive Buy Now, Pay Later option for lodging and packages on major travel brands [1] Group 1: Expanded US Coverage - Under the new agreement, Affirm's installment payment option will be the only Buy Now, Pay Later method for travelers booking hotels and vacation packages on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo in the U.S. [2] - Eligible customers will receive real-time approval decisions and customized monthly payment plans that can extend up to 24 months [2] - Affirm plans to expand its Buy Now, Pay Later service to Canadian travelers on select properties in the near future [2] Group 2: Payment Options - In the U.S., eligible buyers can select three- or six-month plans with 0% APR, with no compounding interest or late fees, and all terms are visible before checkout [3] - The Vice President of Global Payments at Expedia Group emphasized that clear payment choices help individuals pursue meaningful travel experiences [3] Group 3: Adapting to New Booking Habits - Expedia Group is evolving consumer trip planning with tools like AI-powered itinerary discovery, which integrates payment decisions earlier in the booking process [4] - The Senior Vice President of Revenue at Affirm noted that travelers are now considering payment options alongside their destination choices, reflecting the integration of payment flexibility in modern trip planning [4] - Affirm collaborates with nearly 420,000 merchants globally, including major retail brands, to enhance customer access and increase average order value for businesses [5]

Core Insights - Affirm has become the exclusive provider of buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment options for Expedia Group brands in the U.S. [1] - The partnership will soon extend to Canadian travelers, enhancing payment flexibility for customers [2][3] Partnership Details - The collaboration between Affirm and Expedia Group is part of a multi-year expansion [2] - Affirm is now among nearly 420,000 merchants globally that offer flexible payment options [4] Customer Experience - Affirm's BNPL offerings are designed to provide clarity and confidence in payment selection for customers [3] - The partnership aims to enhance the travel planning experience by integrating payment considerations with travel choices [5] Recent Developments - Affirm reported record volumes and profitable growth in Q1 of fiscal 2026, supported by demand for transparent credit options [5] - Recent partnerships include collaborations with Bolt, Esusu, and Gr4vy to expand BNPL services and flexible payment options [6] Technology and Innovation - Expedia Group is leveraging AI, automation, and partner connectivity to meet growing travel demand [7] - The company's technology systems are designed to create a connected experience for travelers and supply partners [7]

Core Insights - Embedded finance is expected to grow significantly as various players integrate financial services into mobile applications, enhancing user experience and accessibility [1][2] Group 1: Embedded Finance Trends - Embedded finance will become a common aspect of daily life, with financial activities integrated into social media and other frequently used applications [2] - This integration allows brands to engage customers in their financial activities directly within the platforms they use [2][3] Group 2: Fintech Banking Charters - Several fintech companies, including Affirm Holdings, Checkout.com, Fiserv, PayPal Holdings, and Stripe, have pursued banking charters recently, indicating a trend towards fintechs becoming banks [4] - The process of obtaining a banking charter is selective, and not all companies will receive approval, as it depends on specific circumstances and regulatory considerations [5] Group 3: Agentic Finance - There is an anticipated increase in agentic finance, which will provide consumers with guidance on personal finance, including account management and financial product recommendations [6]

Core Insights - Affirm Holdings Inc. is experiencing significant stock pressure, down 15% year-to-date due to sector-wide challenges and company-specific issues [1] - The company's Momentum score in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings has sharply declined from 72.68 to 21.46, reflecting the stock's recent downturn [2] Company Performance - Affirm's shares fell by 3.92% on Thursday, closing at $62.80, and dropped another 1.82% overnight, indicating a negative trend [4] - The stock is rated high on Growth but performs poorly on Value and Momentum, with unfavorable price trends across short, medium, and long-term periods [4] Market Sentiment - The decline in Affirm's stock was exacerbated by a short report from activist short-seller Kerrisdale Capital, which criticized the company's credit fundamentals and reliance on financially unstable consumers [3]

Group 1 - Affirm Holdings has submitted an application to establish Affirm Bank, a Nevada-chartered industrial loan company, which would allow the company to have an FDIC-insured institution and scale its business [1] - Analyst Kyle Peterson upgraded AFRM stock from "Hold" to "Buy" with a price target of $100, indicating a potential upside of 60% from current levels, viewing Affirm Bank as a "game-changer" for the company [2] - Approval for Affirm Bank is expected to be likely due to the government's push for deregulation and the company's strong risk management track record [3] Group 2 - Affirm offers Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions, allowing customers to split purchases into flexible installments, and partners with retailers to provide seamless payment options [3][4] - The company has a market capitalization of $21.6 billion and extends unsecured loans assessed through credit evaluations and AI-driven models [4] - AFRM stock has experienced a 6% gain over the past 52 weeks but has declined 8% over the past six months, with a 38% drop from its 52-week high of $100 [5]

The price of Lemonade (NYSE: LMND) skyrocketed in 2025 by some 94% -- and I don't mean the refreshing drink. In this case, I'm referring to the insurance stock that uses AI chatbots and algorithms to process insurance claims. But it may be hard for this innovative fintech to duplicate that level of share price growth in 2026, mainly because the company is still unprofitable, its stock's valuation soared, and it's in an extremely competitive landscape. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team ju ...

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) shares were initially up on Tuesday after the company announced a major buy-now, pay-later partnership, though the stock later pared some of those gains. • Affirm Holdings stock is trading in a tight range. What should traders watch with AFRM?The company said it reached a new strategic agreement that could broaden payment options across a large checkout network.Needham analyst Kyle Peterson also upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy, with a $100 price target.Partnership Det ...